NBA Fantasy News 2010/2011

[HacheMan]

Rudy Can Fail
I got an email from a reader yesterday, shocked that I didn't talk about Rudy Gay's injury in the Daily Dose on Tuesday. About that time, my laptop crashed (again) so I had Adam Levitan take a look around to see if he could find any news of Gay's injury. And, of course, that report turned up nothing, other than the fact he was good to go for last night after playing 40 minutes in his previous game. And then once game-time rolled around, Gay wasn't anywhere to be found, out with a toe injury. And even as of Wednesday morning, we still haven't found out details on his injury, so I'm guessing he's day-to-day.

And at the end of last night's game, which I was watching, Zach Randolph sprained his left ankle when he stepped on Serge Ibaka's foot. He stayed in the game, but was clearly in pain and could be iffy for Friday. I'm guessing, since we didn't hear a word about Gay, we won't hear much about Z-Bo before Friday. Memphis is no Milwaukee when it comes to being a fantasy news black hole, but with a smaller market/staff, it's sometimes tough to get updates on Grizzlies' injuries. Either way, let's just hope both guys are ready to go on Friday against the, wait for it, Bucks.

I can tell you that nothing frustrates me more than seeing a surprise DNP that we didn't know about. It doesn't happen often, and I'm pretty sure if we didn't know, no one else did either, but it still puts me in a pretty foul mood for a few hours when it happens.

[SIZE=+1]Things We Learned On Tuesday[/SIZE]

Nothing Melo About Drama

My wife, who works with a bunch of computer geeks young enough to be our kids, sent me an IM yesterday, telling me that Carmelo Anthony was being traded to the Lakers, with Andrew Bynum heading out of California. Assuming that she heard it on TMZ, I ignored her and kept moving, while she later let me know that one of the guys in her office said Twitter was blowing up about 'Melo to the Lakers.' The common belief here is that the Nuggets are using the Lakers for leverage against the Knicks, although if Melo is really willing to sign an extension with the Lakers, things could get interesting. I still think the Knicks are in the driver's seat here, but if they don't get something done by the deadline, and then let Donnie Walsh walk and bring in Isiah Thomas? Melo and La La probably aren't going to New York, making L.A. a real possibility. But Lakers executive Jim Buss reportedly has no interest in trading Bynum though, so this deal doesn't look like it's going to happen. I think this is enough space dedicated to the Melo-drama in a fantasy column, don't you?

Jrue Holiday Used To Be A Point Guard

Jrue Holiday's slump continued on Tuesday, as he managed to make it through an entire game (a blowout win over the Hawks) without handing out an assist. The rest of his line was fine (15 points, two steals, two blocks), but he's not in our lineups to block shots. He's tallied just seven assists in his last three games, but at least scored last night, after totaling eight points in his previous two. Andre Iguodala is racking up dimes like a point guard right now, but I'm still not throwing in the towel on Jrue. This is a slump.

Brandon Roy Is An Optimist

After Brandon Roy shook the fantasy foundation by proclaiming himself back this weekend, Nate McMillan stepped in to stop the stampede to the waiver wire, saying that he didn't expect Roy to play this week. Either way, it sounds like Roy is relatively pain free and should return to the court in the near future. However, I'm not touching him in weekly leagues, as the chance of him making it too long without missing games is very low. I'd let someone else deal with the headache, unless you are cutting a useless player in order to pick him up.

Looks Like We Picked The Wrong Day To Stop Rolling Tony Allen

With Rudy's surprise DNP last night, Tony Allen started and went off for a season-high 27 points on 9-of-13 shooting, along with some fantasy gold in the form of five steals and three blocks. There was no reason to have him in lineups last night, but if you did, nice work. You have to think Gay will be back on Friday, while Sam Young (14 points, three boards, three assists, a steal, a block) continues to play well. If you want to take a flier on Allen (cutting someone you never start), it makes sense, but I am not ready to cut a Young, Christian Eyenga or Landry Fields for him. The title of this paragraph was inspired by my buddy Jeff Andriesse, who tweeted something about dropping Allen earlier in the day Tuesday.

Baron Davis Is Still A Very Good Basketball Player

I got into it with a guy on Twitter very early in the season about Baron. I said he was washed up, while he insisted he was still a beast. It was a long and shaky start to the season for Baron, but he is rolling right now, going off for a season-high 25 points to go along with eight boards, eight assists, three steals and four 3-pointers. His season, and possibly life, has been rejuvenated by playing alongside Blake Griffin and slumping DeAndre Jordan, while the absence of Eric Gordon might even be helping Davis. He hurt his back recently and I really thought he was going to miss time, but he's obviously good to go (for now). I haven't heard from the guy on Twitter since, but he really should have sent me an "I told ya so."

And speaking of Gordon, there's no new news to report on his wrist after he met with a couple more doctors recently, but it does sound like he's going to be out through the All-Star break. Randy Foye has been struggling (3-of-13 last night), but is still probably worth hanging onto.
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Scott Skiles Doesn't Like You

Remember when Carlos Delfino was getting 45 minutes a night and looked like a can't-miss fantasy player going forward? Yeah, that as pretty cool. Scott Skiles changed his mind on Tuesday and decided to start John Salmons (and Corey Maggette) so he could bring Delfino off the bench. The result was a bunch of mediocre production from the starting unit, while Delfino had nine points in just 22 minutes. Salmons is now worth grabbing (again) after his 17 points, six boards, steal and three, but as I've been saying since October, this team is a fantasy disaster. And you can bet that Skiles is going to change his mind a couple more times before we're done. My guess is Maggette (16 points, 9 boards) is his next victim, while we're all still waiting for Brandon Jennings (6-of-14 for 12 points) to start playing basketball this season. As my boys in Dinosaur Jr. say at the end of Freak Scene, "What a mess."

Waiver Wired Wiz Kid

DeJuan Blair hit 9-of-15 shots for 18 points and 12 boards Tuesday. He was the Waiver Wired cover boy this week, and while he'll still be inconsistent, he should be picked up in all leagues as Gregg Popovich is ready to put the plane on autopilot (still funny, even if not in engish). Ike Diogu, a deep call in WW, had 18 points and five boards, and has actually been outplaying DeAndre Jordan. And now that Chris Kaman is supposedly day-to-day, it might be time to drop Jordan. I'm still hanging on, and I wish that last night's poor line could just be blamed on Dwight Howard, but he's been in a wicked slump lately.

Chauncey's Knee Is Still Intact

An MRI on the left knee of Chauncey Billups brought good news yesterday and he's day-to-day. If you picked up Ty Lawson due to Billups' injury, you may as well hold onto him until the trade deadline comes and goes.

Blake Griffin's Path Of Destruction

OK, maybe that headline was a little strong, but his chest-to-chest takedown of Al Horford, which caused Horford to land somewhat violently on his back, caused him to miss his second straight game on Tuesday. This was another one that came out of nowhere, and hopefully Horford is back at it on Saturday against the Bobcats. It was a two-game week for the Hawks and I hope they were on your bench, as the entire team, outside of Josh Smith, took the night off against the Sixers.

Kevin Love Is A Very Good Rebounder

Kevin Love racked up his 38th straight double-double last night, breaking Kevin Garnett's team record last night. He finished with 20 points, 14 boards and three more 3-pointers. It's amazing to me that a guy who can rebound like that can also hit threes. Moses Malone had 44 straight double-doubles back in 1982-83, and is next on Love's hit list.

Michael Beasley (ankle), Luke Ridnour (personal) and Darko Milicic (hip) were all out last night, meaning Wesley Johnson (13 points, 6 boards), Jonny Flynn (15 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, 5 TOs) and Nikola Pekovic (6 points, 7 boards) started. Wayne Ellington scored 18 points, as all the injured players remain day-to-day with their injuries. Obviously, Johnson and Pekovic are worth a look, but are not must-add players for Kurt Rambis. And don't look now, but the Wolves have won two straight on the road. That's right. Darko says he heard a 'pop' in his hip, but is still considered day-to-day. It might be time to let 'Manna from Heaven' go, as he's just too injury prone.

[SIZE=+1]Tuesday Roundup, Quick Hit Style[/SIZE]

Roddy Beaubois practiced and might be ready by the All-Star break.
Nene is questionable again with the flu tonight vs. GSW.
Ronny Turiaf's (ankle) out and Timofey Mozgov will start, which could last.
Paul Millsap has a toe injury, but will just cut it off if it's bothering him at tip.
Roy Hibbert had 20 points, 10 boards and 3 steals last night. Welcome back!
Dahntay Jones scored 11 points for IND and is worth a deep-league look.
Tyler Hansbrough had 18 points, but just two boards off the bench.
Mike Dunleavy (2 points, 15 minutes) was benched for defensive reasons.
LeBron James had 41 p, 13 r, 8 a, 3 s, 1 b and 2 3s. Nice.
Mario Chalmers had 16 points, but don't think about him.
Will Bynum had 21 points, but isn't worth owning with Stuckey back.
Rodney Stuckey had 10 points and 3 dimes in 28 minutes in his return.
Greg Monroe had another double-double with 14 & 13, but lack of blocks hurts.
Tracy McGrady was quiet in 24 minutes, but was due for an off night.
Austin Daye played 28 minutes and is worth a pickup (again) in most leagues.
Courtney Lee had 23 points, but is a shaky pickup. Let's see him do it again.
Aaron Brooks returned from susp., but hit 1-of-8 shots as nightmare continues.
Dwight Howard had 22 & 20, 2 steals and a block, his 5th 20-20 this year.
Leandro Barbosa returned for 8 points in 25 minutes, so give him a look.
Amir Johnson hit just 1-of-7 shots for 5 points, 11 boards, 2 blocks. Must-own.
Serge Ibaka fought through rib injury for 6 points, 14 boards, 3 blocks. Warrior.
Jeff Green cooled off for 2-of-12 shooting, 7 points, 7 boards. Buy-low.
Nick Young (knee) is expected to play for Wiz tonight.
Chuck Hayes stayed hot w/ 10 points, 13 boards, 5 steals. That's three double-doubles in his last four games.

 

[HacheMan]

Do the Diddy If You Want To
I returned from the Kings game last night to a short and simple message from Dr. A.

"I'm backing off Baron as a sell-high."

Those are strong words from a guy that has been pretty hard on Baron all year and forgotten more about fantasy basketball than I've ever known, and it highlights a night of burning questions that have owners questioning their eyes and their guts. So let's get right to it after a busy 10-game night.

For real-time news and analysis, you can follow me on Twitterright here.

Do the Diddy if you want to

Because then I can see if I want you, said Paperboy back in 1992, and who would have guessed the words would be so poignant this Thursday morning. Diddy, a/k/a Baron Davis, has gone from one man's trash to hopefully your treasure, and found new life in the Blake Show. He followed up his season-high 25 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists from Tuesday with 16 points and a season-high 16 assists on Wednesday against the defenseless Knicks.

But here's where it gets good. Since Eric Gordon went on the shelf on January 22, Diddy is averaging 16.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 7.9 assists, 2.3 steals, 43% FG shooting, 92% FT shooting, and 1.7 threes in nine games – good for a No. 9 overall rank in 8-cat leagues over that span.

The numbers prior to that? Taking the 16 games he played while Eric Gordon was healthy and Baron had fully returned to the starting lineup, those numbers move to 13.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.9 blocks, 45.4% FG shooting, 69% FT shooting, and 1.1 threes per game – good for a No. 57 rank in 8-cat leagues.

For me, the biggest number is 20. That's the number of games he has averaged on the injured list in his 13 seasons prior to this campaign. Aside from all of the wear and tear, the sore back from last Wednesday, the knee surgeries, and the host of injuries he has sustained over his career – the largest issue for me is that he arrived this season out of shape. This is not a finely tuned athlete entering his prime, it's a broken down, getting back into shape athlete playing at a very high level.

As much as it pains me to say, being the brow-beaten Warrior fan wearing a 'We Believe' shirt as I write this, I cannot in good faith back off on the position I've held since the day Gordon went down. Yes, he looks motivated, effective, and Gordon isn't exactly risk-free. But if I can find an owner that will take Davis off my hands for a player like Darren Collison, I'm going to do it, despite the fact that Diddy has about three rounds of value on DC over the past month. Is it wrong to hold on? No, and if Baron can stay healthy it may be time to eat some words, but that's what the gut is telling me.

The Blair Witch Project

Along the lines of Davis, we all feel like we've been down this road before with DeJuan Blair, and with four double-doubles in the five games entering last night, he put a bow on his hot streak with a career-high tying 28 points, 11 rebounds, a steal, and two blocks on 14-of-21 FGs. Prior to this streak of five 2x2s in six games, he had seven double-doubles prior to that, mostly strewn randomly around four-point, five-rebound games. Clouding the matter further was the competition from last night, Brook Lopez lookalike Andrea Bargnani, who only managed two rebounds and has done this before. In the two games Blair has played against Toronto, he has averaged 25 points and 11 rebounds, but that doesn't change the fact that over this hot streak he has averaged 15 points and 10.5 rebounds -- and last night's result happened while Tim Duncan posted 16 points, seven boards, six rebounds, and five blocks in just 25 minutes.

Is Pop going to screw with his minutes and fantasy owners' emotions nightly? Probably, but the key here is Tim Duncan's prescribed rest down the stretch, and while it's much too late to pick Blair up – those that did can feel a bit better knowing that Duncan's losses are their gains.
www.therx.ws
Helper Holiday

As in, Jrue's taking some time off from helping anybody out. The trend continued last night when he scored just three points on 1-of-5 FGs with four rebounds and four assists, while 'point-forward' Andre Iguodala rang up another big helping of 'helpers' with eight total to go with 21 points, four rebounds, three steals, a block, and a three. Iguodala has racked up 40 assists in his last five games, and was fourth in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio entering last night (3.58). The only silver lining for Jrue's owners? Iguodala actually had five turnovers last night after having just four in the previous five games, so maybe defenses are catching up, or he's ready to cool off. In the meantime, all Holiday's owners can do is hope that Doug Collins reverts back to the mean.

The Cleveland Bucs

The Cavs lost for the 26th straight time last night at home against the Pistons, tying the 1976-77 Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the worst losing streak in major American pro sports. There's not much to say here, though Byron Scott had a lot to say last night, ripping his team at halftime and after the game. I hate to say it, Bryon, but you should've unfolded those arms back on December 2.

From a fantasy perspective it isn't all bad, though, as Ramon Sessions, J.J. Hickson, and Antawn Jamison are all very useful right now. Sessions had 20 points, six rebounds, 12 assists, and five steals, and needs to be watched closely as Mo Williams (hip) will practice today. There's a good chance Mo returns before the All Star break and gets showcased for a trade, and on Wednesday, Scott called him his "starter." He didn't say if he would start immediately or come off the bench, but with the trade deadline approaching values could swap on an hourly basis. Hickson had 18 points, 15 boards, and a block, while Jamison has been given a neon-green light to shoot and had 22 points with seven boards. His knee has been bothering him and I worry that if/when the Cavs win another game that he'll ease off the gas pedal.

Speaking of that next game, it comes on Friday against the Clippers, and if they can't win then we'll be treated to one of the best Toilet Bowls in recent memory. The Wizards will be in town on Sunday with their winless record on the road.

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We Want Melo

That's what they were saying at the Garden last night as the Poster Child and Co. came in and outhustled them, taking a 116-108 win in the process. I'm not going to wax poetic on the please-don't-call-it Melodrama much here, other than to say it's a necessary evil for owners to stay abreast of, and instead I'll be touching on that and all of the other trade deadline news in a weekend column I will be debuting, well, this weekend.

To recap the developments from yesterday, however, the Knicks are still in the lead and all of the powers that be on Team Melo are trying desperately to convince Donnie Walsh to give Denver a bone. It didn't hurt matters that Danilo Gallinari, Landry Fields, and Wilson Chandler combined for 10-of-34 shooting in a loss to the (gasp) Clippers, and owner Jim Dolan reportedly called Denver to get talks moving. I've had New York with the best actionable offer for the last 45 days, throughout the many reports he would be a Net, and owners of Raymond Felton and the aforementioned Knicks have had a while to consider their trade options. Yes, it's about as fun to talk about as it is to let your girlfriend know how many others there have been (answer: three), but if you're competitive about fantasy basketball then reading the tea leaves will be the difference between November Gilbert Arenas and February Gilbert Arenas. And honestly, hearing folks complain about the Melodrama is about as bad as the Melodrama itself (see weather, Super Bowl).

Jerry's World

Jerry Sloan, like Chuck Norris, is the reason that Waldo is hiding. When he gets mad, people shut up and listen, and when he doesn't let the media in for 30 minutes after Wednesday's loss to the Bulls and cancels Thursday's practice – all hell breaks loose in Salt Lake City. Maybe it was Carlos Boozer's return, or maybe he's just over it after coaching the Jazz since 1988 – but there was speculation that he was quitting for about a half hour. He reportedly spent those 30 minutes with general manager Kevin O'Connor and returned to say that changes would be made, insinuating a trade may be in the works – but really nobody knows what Sloan is thinking. All we really know is that Jerry Sloan doesn't mow his lawn, he just stands outside and dares it to grow.

Wam Bam, Wednesday's Glam

Will Bynum scored 17 points with seven assists and may be threatening T-Mac's playing time.
Rodney Stuckey looks ready to produce after 22 points and four assists.
Ben Gordon does not after his eight-point outing, and his decline has moved him out of must-own territory.
Daniel Gibson hit four treys last night but not much else. I'm exercising patience here, though I think he's more hurt than he's letting on.
Leandro Barbosa is probably worth a pickup after his 20 points last night. He was getting it done before his injury and there's no reason to think he can't do it again.
Amir Johnson was carried off the court last night after an ankle injury, which is all the rage these days, and then returned (also the rage) and scored 12 points with 13 rebounds and three blocks. His back, ankle, and Reggie Evans are all issues to navigate, but I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt on all three right now. He should be owned in all leagues.
Marco Belinelli lost his job and didn't play in the first half last night, and proceeded to hit five threes in the second half. Regardless, he still isn't worth an add, even in deeper leagues until he does it again.
I saw a fan hit a half-court shot last night to win a car. He said before the shot he wasn't going to use the backboard, and wouldn't you know he was dead-on. It's about a million times cooler in person than on T.V.
Chris Paul looked slow last night and didn't hit a shot until the 9:56 mark of the third quarter. Some think this is a buy-low moment but the guy isn't healthy. Whatever he's going to cost to get, I'm not willing to pay.
The New Jersey bench went off last night, with Sasha Vujacic hitting 9-of-14 shots for a career-high 25 points with four rebounds, four assists, Jordan Farmar (back) returning to score eight points with 11 assists in 27 minutes, and Kris Humphries posting a 14-point, 15-rebound double-double. The Humph is still worth owning, Sasha is worth a look but is nowhere near a must-add, and Farmar should just be watched in case Devin Harris gets hurt or traded.
Brook Lopez grabbed seven rebounds last night. I expected more fanfare.
Aside from Baron Davis big night, Randy Foye had his expected bounce-back game with a season-high 24 points with four rebounds, three assists, and two steals, Ryan Gomes became useful once again with 18 points and two threes, and DeAndre Jordan got a stay of execution with 17 points, eight rebounds, a steal, and a block. The Knicks weren't stopping anybody last night, but Gomes can be looked at in deep leagues once again, and Jordan re-joins Foye as must-own players right now.
Timofey Mozgov got off to a blazing start last night, but was benched down the stretch as the Knicks went small, but still managed 18 points, six rebounds, a steal, and a block. He's worth a look, but I need to see a bit more before I'm dropping anybody with consistent value for him.
Deron Williams was outplayed by Derrick Rose last night, and interestingly he said that he would be playing in the All Star game because he thought it was mandatory. It surely is not, but if he does play in the game it will be a great sign for owners worrying about his wrist.
Make no mistake, 5'9" J.J. Barea is as tough as nails on the court, and had 20 points to lead the Mavs to a win against the Kings last night. He blew by defender after defender, taking shot after shot, while DeMarcus Cousins (19 points, 15 boards, one steal, one block) fell to the ground after little-to-no contact and cried all night. My girlfriend, who routinely cannot answer the question of 'how many points is a 3-point shot worth in the third quarter,' says to me, "why does that guy just sit on the ground and wait for his teammates to come pick him up?" Cousins was ejected for a bogus double-technical late, but it's pretty insane to think of what he could do with the right attitude.
Dirk Nowitzki's wrist was apparently a concern according to coach Rick Carlisle, but watching him shoot is a thing of beauty. His misses hit the rim softly and bounce kindly away. He missed quite a bit with just 4-of-14 FG makes on the night, and it's certainly something to watch going forward.
Samuel Dalembert had a season-high 20 points with seven rebounds and no blocks, and while the latter stat hurts, he made his presence known last night. He's worth adding if you need a big man, though I found the scowl he drew from Cousins late for not passing him the ball interesting. Maybe there's something between these two guys.
In another one for the Carmelo Anthony file, he didn't get the ball late as the Nuggets needed a shot late to tie or beat the Warriors. Ty Lawson (eight points, seven boards, six assists) instead passed the ball to Nene (17 points, six boards, four assists, two steals, a block) who missed a 17-footer. Melo threw his headband down on the floor, in what may have been a sign that the team is ready to move forward with or without him.
Stephen Curry tweaked his ankle yesterday, and had an awful night due to foul trouble, scoring just 13 points with two assists, while Monta Ellis went off in his place for 37 points on 16-of-30 shooting. Tim Kawakami, Warrior scribe extraordinaire, broke down numbers that showed the only time the Warriors were good last night was when one of the two were off the court. It's pretty simple, actually. The two both struggle on defense and stand around when the other has the ball, but put a guard like Reggie Williams (18 points, six assists, 4-of-4 from downtown) next to one of them -- and both of their efficiency is maximized. And, they can play, ya know, defense. I'm not saying this is going to happen, but Tim is a respected local voice and I wouldn't be surprised to see the idea floated by Keith Smart, who would then have to decide what to do armed with such knowledge. Either way, the minute-distribution would be unlikely to change, just the timing of it.

Thursday Night Lights

Kobe Bryant takes his gimpy ankle to Boston where they will try to get some revenge after losing to the C's in L.A. Andrew Bynum will be the focus of laughable trade rumors, but owners should be more concerned with his left knee's progress in healing from a bone bruise. It's not the knee he had surgery on, but as a member of the 7-foot club he's on watch for the rest of his career. For the Celtics, Paul Pierce missed practice with the flu on Wednesday, but is expected to play. Shaq is extremely doubtful, as if it matters, and Semih Erden is iffy with a thigh injury. Either way, look for Kendrick Perkins to get about 30 minutes and do well with them. Ray Allen needs one three to tie Reggie Miller, who will be calling the game for TNT.

The red-headed game will be a customary shootout with Golden State traveling to Phoenix, and hopefully we'll get an update on Steph Curry's ankle before too long. Otherwise, both teams are fairly healthy and we could see some big lines.

The late TNT game will be full of Melo-trauma, and Chauncey Billups (knee) is expected to play. We'll be watching Dirk's wrist, and hopefully Team Melo, the Nuggets, the Nets, or the Knicks don't release too many media plants in the next 24 hours. I'd like to write this weekend's trade deadline column less than 10 times. See you on Twitter!

 

[HacheMan]

The Leandroid Returns
Somewhat monumental occasion here – this is the first entry published during the Roundball Stew Headshot Era, which history books may one day describe as "enjoyable, prosperous and consistently featuring a photograph of the writer of the column toward the upper left of the page."

Now, so that none of us has to spend too much time watching me grin up there, let's get directly to the business at hand:

TRENDSPOTTING

Three on the Rise:

Leandro Barbosa: Showing no patience whatsoever for the hindrance commonly known as rust, The Leandroid (a machine which scores points off a professional basketball team's bench) scored 20 in 27 minutes in just his second game since returning from a three-week absence on Wednesday. This man averaged 16.4 ppg, 3.1 apg, 1.4 spg and 1.8 threes in his last 16 games before getting injured, and can easily go back to duplicating those numbers. Make the add.

DeJuan Blair: He is undoubtedly in the midst of his best stretch of the season (15.0 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 1.5 spg, 1.0 bpg in his last six games), but forgive me if I'm not yet fully sold. Flashes of brilliance followed by ugly droughts have been Blair's M.O. dating back to last year, and while I do think he's worth adding to see how long he keeps it up, I'm not convinced that the 21-year-old has suddenly mastered the art of consistency mid-season.

Christian Eyenga: I caught some flack for answering too many Eyenga questions in my chat on Tuesday, but my response to that is twofold: 1) I was getting asked a lot of questions about Eyenga; 2) What can I say? I like what he's been doing lately. Though not a reliable scorer (as evidenced by his eight points, three rebounds and two blocks on Wednesday), he's still averaging an intriguing 10.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.5 spg, 1.5 bpg and 0.8 threes in his last six. And though there's no guarantee he's useful a few weeks from now, that combo of threes, steals and blocks makes him worth a flier in plenty of leagues at the moment.

Follow me on Twitter: @MattStroup

Three on the Plummet:

Carlos Delfino: I've been trying to stay optimistic that Delfino, John Salmons and Corey Maggette can all share value in a three-man SG/SF rotation, but at the moment Delfino isn't upholding his portion of the agreement, posting just 8.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg and 1.3 apg in his last three games. The good news is that he has still gotten 26 minutes per game during that slump, and if you're in a deeper format where good players don't get dropped often, I would advise staying patient for now.

Tracy McGrady: Though McGrady is only 31 years old, my calculations indicate that his Actual Knee Age (A.K.A.) is 74. His run of productivity probably isn't completely over, but after seeing him post identical 7-2-3 lines in each of his last two games, it's very evident that T-Mac needs the All-Star break to get here in a hurry.

Vince Carter: Speaking of elevated A.K.A.'s, Vince's last six scoring totals prior to Thursday night have gone 22, 17, 12, 2, 33, 10 (average of 16.0 ppg), leaving him with a 15.6 ppg average for Phoenix after scoring 15.1 for Orlando this year. Obviously that's not bad, and I need to be clear here: I'm not saying that Vince is on the plummet in terms of value, but more that our expectations of his stats need to be lowered. Scoring 15-plus with 2.3 threes (his average for the Suns) is definitely useful, but a consistent 18-20 ppg no longer seems to be in his range – even when playing alongside Steve Nash.

THREE RANDOM BUT HOPEFULLY USEFUL OBSERVATIONS

1. Andre Iguodala's reemergence has not been fun for Jrue Holiday. Initiating the Sixers' offense more often, Iguodala has posted 16.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 8.4 apg, 1.7 spg, 0.7 bpg and 0.7 threes in his last seven games. During that same stretch, Holiday is averaging just 8.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 4.6 apg, 0.9 spg and 0.9 threes. The good news is that Philly's young PG has still been playing 33 minutes a night and should break out of his scoring slump even if his assists are capped in the 4-5 range for now.

2. Brandon Bass' return will actually be a good thing for Ryan Anderson. Anderson as a starter in February: 13.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 0.0 bpg and 2.8 threes on 41.8 percent shooting. Those numbers aren't a disaster at all, but they're notably worse than the 14.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 0.9 bpg and 3.0 threes on 46.8 percent shooting that he posted in January. Once Bass is back, Anderson can go back to playing against the other team's reserves, and won't have to worry as much about foul trouble, which should get his shot-blocking numbers closer to their January level.

3. Blake Griffin has taken a step backward. First things first: With averages of 20.6 ppg, 11.6 rpg and 2.8 apg through five games this month, Griffin is still pretty useful even when slumping. But his regression in free throw shooting and blocks is disconcerting. After surging all the way to 69.2 percent from the line in January, he's down to 44.7 percent (17-for-38) so far in February. Furthermore, after posting 0.8 bpg in December, he dropped to 0.4 in January and now 0.2 this month. Make no mistake, I'm still convinced he can be a 70-plus percent free throw shooter who blocks at least a shot per game in the future, but it appears that fatigue is chipping away at the edges of his previously monstrous numbers right now.
www.miamiheat.ws
10 QUICK-HITTING STATEMENTS OF FACT AND/OR OPINION

1) I'm big on Paul George's eventual upside, but his 7.5 ppg in an average of 20 minutes over the Pacers' last two games has rendered him droppable.

2) Lately, Jason Kidd has begun to look a lot more like Jason Kidd: 10.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 8.0 apg, 1.3 spg, 0.9 bpg, 2.5 threes in his last eight games. Now would be a wise time to market him as a top-25 player if you've been dying to get him off your team.

3) Timofey Mozgov's last five games: 11.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.2 bpg, 65.7 percent shooting. There's some potential here.

4) Speaking of the Knicks frontcourt, Amare Stoudemire is averaging a Brook Lopez-esque 5.5 rpg in his last six games, but is still dropping 27.7 ppg with 1.8 bpg during that stretch. The recent lack of rebounds lately is slightly annoying, but no cause for panic.

5) If Brandon Jennings is on your squad, you have to be somewhat thrilled with the 20 points on 9-for-24 shooting Wednesday. Obviously 9-for-24 hurts the old field goal percentage, but it's a good sign that the lefty is starting to feel pretty spry.

6) After some shaky games in January, Raymond Felton has averaged 16.8 ppg, 10.8 rpg and 1.8 threes on 44.3 percent shooting in four games this month.

7) Josh McRoberts' 12-9-7 line on Wednesday got my attention, but his recent stats (10.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.0 bpg in his last four games) likely aren't sustainable, restricting his value to deeper leagues.

8) Deeper league alert: After an ugly first few months of the season, Raja Bell has averaged 15.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.5 apg, 0.8 spg and 1.3 threes in his last four games.

Editor's note: For exclusive articles, chats, projections and more, check out the Rotoworld NBA Season Pass.

9) After hearing Thursday's bombshell news that Jerry Sloan is resigning, one name that comes to mind as potentially benefiting from a new regime is C.J. Miles. He's still far from a must-add, but is at least worth watching to see if new leadership helps him ditch his maddening inconsistency. (My cynical guess: It won't.)

10) Last week I voiced some concern about Baron Davis' back injury. Naturally, he has responded by posting 19.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 10.8 apg, 3.5 spg and 2.0 threes in his last four games. I can understand the logic behind selling high, but personally I'm planning on keeping Le Baron in my lineup until his limbs go cartwheeling off (which hopefully won't ever happen).

 

[HacheMan]

Dose: Mr. Sloan and Me
Goodbye…Jerry

Jerry Sloan is no longer the coach of the Utah Jazz, a position he held for the last 23 years. Sloan is 69 years old and famous for going head-to-head with his players, including Karl Malone back in the day, but no longer felt he could win battles with Deron Williams. While it is sad to see Sloan go, I also think it might be a good thing for the Jazz. Ty Corbin will take the reins and hopefully run a freer offense and give Williams more control to be creative. Sloan clearly mishandled Andrei Kirilenko in the past, and his career may have had a much happier ending had he never played for Sloan. Sloan was as old school as they come, and while I will miss him, it was probably time for him to move on.

Williams is catching some heat for being the guy who forced Sloan out the door, but he's far from a coach-killer. To me, this is more of a sign of the times than it is anything else. Now the Jazz have to worry about keeping Deron's wrist healthy for the rest of the season, and then finding a way of convincing him to re-sign with the team this summer – or at least to exercise his player option to stay one more year. Sloan's departure was the first step in the plan to keep Williams, but if the Jazz don't import some better talent to surround him with, and in a hurry, he's not likely to stay in Utah.

On his wrist, Williams did say he's planning/hoping to play in the All-Star Game, which should be construed as good news. If he were truly worried about the wrist, you would assume he'd flat out say 'no way' to the game. As for Paul Millsap, Kirilenko and Al Jefferson? I don't think they take a fantasy hit at all with a new coach.

Horford's Back Still Hurting

Al Horford's back is bruised from a violent fall after being taken down by Blake Griffin and now sounds unlikely to play on Saturday against Charlotte. The Hawks were dismantled on Tuesday without Horford, so this is bad news for them, as well as fantasy owners. He did say he's hoping it feels better today, and hasn't ruled himself out yet, but this does not look good. The only saving grace is this happened during a two-game week.

Weak In The Knee

Rashard Lewis recently said he'll need offseason knee surgery, but also said he plans on playing in back-to-back games this Saturday and Sunday. The league's most overpaid player has been mired in a slump thanks to his right knee and at this point, owners just have to hope the surgery doesn't happen before the end of the season. If he doesn't get this ship righted in the near future, he's not going to be buy-low or sell-high. Instead, he's going to end up on the scrap heap.

Wolves, Lower

Michael Beasley (ankle) and Darko Milicic (hip), to the surprise of no one, missed Thursday's practice and are very iffy for tonight against the Pacers. As usual, Wesley Johnson and Nikola Pekovic could start tonight if the injured duo can't go. I really need to just face facts and drop Darko! in a few leagues where I'm hanging onto him, but just haven't gotten around to it yet. House in order? Not quite.

Rodman Love

Dennis Rodman will finally have his jersey retired by the Pistons later this season. I don't have much to say about this other than that it's about time. He was the spiritual leader of the Bad Boys and was one of the great characters (and rebounders) in NBA history. At least one good thing is going to happen in the Palace this season.

And in more good Detroit news, it sounds like the team is on the verge of being sold to Tom Gores. Make that two good things.

Injury Roundup

Mo Williams will return for the Cavaliers tonight and is expected to come off the bench. This should mean the end is near for Ramon Sessions, but I'm going to hang onto him for a week and see how things play out.

Marcus Camby will not play on Friday and while there's no timetable for his return, he continues to paint a picture of himself as day-to-day with his knee injury. The realty is that he could be out until the All-Star break.

Kwame Brown is set to return tonight from personal issues, and should re-take his place in the starting lineup over Nazr Mohammed.

Luke Ridnour will miss yet another game on Friday as he and his family deal with complications with the birth of one of his twins. This will make six straight missed games for Ridnour, and while we are hoping this situation turns out for the best, you have to think basketball is the furthest thing from his mind right now. And while Jonny Flynn hasn't exactly played at an all-star level in Luke's absence, it's time to grab Flynn. Personal leaves are generally a one- or two-game deal, and with this one approaching two weeks, along with the seriousness of the problem, I'm very concerned for Ridnour and his family.

[SIZE=+1]Thursday Night Lights[/SIZE]

Afflalo's Triple-19s

Arron Afflalo stepped into the game when Carmelo Anthony fouled out with 19 seconds left and the Nuggets down one to the Mavericks, calmly drained a 19-footer to win at the buzzer, and scored 19 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter to cap off a nice comeback, stopping the Mavs' winning streak at 10 games. Dallas was down by 18 in the first half, but had the Nuggets down by 13 early in the fourth before Afflalo took over the game

Carmelo Anthony scored 42 points and with the constant focus on trade talk, you might not have noticed that he's absolutely on fire on the court. In six February games, he's shooting 56 percent and averaging 32.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, nearly two threes, a steal and a block per game. Of course, he's also turning it over 3.7 times per game isn't dishing the ball, but the guy is clearly in a zone. It's too bad that trade rumors don't impact New York's Wilson Chandler the same way.

Chauncey Billups returned from a left knee strain, scoring 30 and posting a fat stat line, while Nene had a quiet night due to foul trouble.

For the Mavs, Dirk Nowitzki played through his sore wrist and had 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists on 5-of-10 shooting, while the Mavs got much of their production off the bench. Jason Terry scored 25 with six 3-pointers, Shawn Marion chipped in with 19 points, five boards and three steals, while Jose Juan Barea stayed hot with 17 points, five assists and two more threes. He's been in the zone for 10 days or so and should be given a look in most leagues before he cools off. Tyson Chandler hit 8-of-9 shots for 20 points and 11 boards, as his surprising season continues to roll along.

Bynum Leads Lakers Over Celtics

Andrew Bynum played a season-high 34 minutes last night, dropping 16 points, nine boards and a block on the Celtics in a tough road win. Kobe Bryant went off in the second half, scoring 20 of his 23 points, while Lamar Odom also had a nice night with another double-double.

The Lakers win rained on the parade of Ray Allen, who became the NBA's all-time leader in 3-pointers last night after hitting three of them and passing Reggie Miller for the lead. Rajon Rondo had another double-double with 12 points and 10 dimes, but shot it poorly, while Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins and Paul Pierce all played well. Perkins is clearly back to form, and should be a serviceable center as long as the O'Neal brothers don't come back too soon and rain on his parade. Nate Robinson left this game with a bruised knee and didn't return. He's scheduled for an MRI on Friday, so hope for the best.

Thanks For Nothing, GSW

The Warriors might as well have not even shown up to play thee Suns last night, as Steve Nash and Channing Frye led Phoenix to one of their easiest wins of the season. The starting five for the Warriors was awful and we just have to hope that Keith Smart doesn't do anything drastic after this one. I don't think he will, but Monta Ellis, Stephen Curry, Andris Biedrins, David Lee and even Dorell Wright were all in a funk last night. At least Curry's ankle injury didn't keep him out. While it's clearly a good time to buy low on Curry, you can lump most of his teammates in there with him after this one.

Ekpe Udoh, Reggie Williams and Brandon Wright all made some noise off the bench, but that's only because the starters were playing like dog pooh. That's twice in the last week the Suns have waxed the Warriors and they only get them one more time this season, on March 18.

Once again, Marcin Gortat got the minutes while Robin Lopez started for the Suns, and I am still anxiously awaiting for Gortat's move into the starting five. Now I'm just not sure it's going to happen. Vince Carter played just 16 minutes last night, and my guess is he was given the night off with his bum knee.

Enjoy Friday's full slate of 10 games.

 

[HacheMan]

Dose: I'm (not) Streaking!

Monday's Daily Dose focuses on the injury report from around the league as you prepare to set fantasy hoops lineups. It's a short week in most leagues, while it's the beginning of a two-week marathon in others, as the All-Star Game takes place on Sunday.

The Wizards, Raptors, Cavaliers, Celtics, Knicks, Thunder, Magic and Grizzlies have just one game before Friday's break starts, while all other teams play two games this week.
www.miamiheat.ws
If you're looking for hot pickups this week, check out Waiver Wired.

I'm (no longer) Streaking!

In case you missed it over the weekend, the Cavaliers actually won a basketball game on Friday night when they took down the Clippers in an overtime thriller. J.J. Hickson has been beasting and Mo Williams is back and rolling for the Cavs, who snapped a 26-game losing streak. Well, at least for that one night. On Sunday, it was the Wizards' turn to steal the spotlight, as they took down the Cavs behind 31 points from Nick Young, snapping a 25-game road-losing streak.

Black Sunday

If you owned Paul Pierce, Sunday's nightmare of a fantasy line might have cost you a win, and if you were playing against Pierce's owner, it was one of those great days where things probably worked in your favor all the way around. Pierce was 0-for-10 and scored just one point in 40 minutes on national television against the Heat. I still can't really believe it happened, nor can I believe the –0.0 fantasy points he racked up for me/us. And to add insult to injury, he's having an MRI on his left foot Monday, and also hurt his right hand on Sunday. That makes him very iffy for Wednesday against the Nets, which is the only game the Celtics have before next week. Hopefully he's ready to go once the All-Star break is behind us.

I don't know what it is, but it seems like most of my studs tend to disappear on Sundays, which was not the case last year. There's nothing worse than going into Sunday with a games-played advantage and a good chance to win, only to see your guys lay eggs and hang you with a loss.

Livingston To Start Monday

D.J. Augustin is out on Monday with a hand injury, meaning Saturday's hero, Shaun Livingston, will start for the Bobcats tonight. I wasn't sold on Livingston as a must-own player when I woke up on Monday, but I'm pretty close to being there now. Yes, DJA is still the starting point guard, but if Livingston goes off tonight against the Lakers (and he should), he could end up replacing DJA as the starter. Put Augustin on your bench for now and consider grabbing Livingston. I just cut Paul George in order to pick up Livingston in one league. Which, by the way, should also ensure that George has a nice week.

Diaw's Misery Continues

Boris Diaw overslept and missed shootaround Monday, causing Paul Silas to bench him tonight for Eduardo Najera. No, Najera doesn't have any fantasy value, but given the benching and Diaw's struggles recently, he might not either. Get him on your bench.

Amare's Toe

Amare Stoudemire missed Saturday's game with a toe injury and is very iffy for Wednesday against the struggling Hawks. That's the Knicks only game this week and if Amare skips it, he might also use the injury as a way to get out of the All-Star Game. That would give him 12 full days of rest, which will come in handy later in the season. Consider him a game-time decision for Wednesday, but the safest move in weekly leagues is to bench him if you have other options.

Is Josh Howard Relevant?

Josh Howard returned to action on Sunday and thanks to a Rashard Lewis knee injury, moved directly into the starting lineup despite appearing in just eight games this season. Well that number is up to nine now, and he played quite well in the win, finishing with 16 points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals, a block and three 3-pointers. In fact, that could easily end up being his best line of the year when it's all said and done. I'm pretty confident he's going to get hurt again and end up being a major fantasy headache, but he is still probably worth picking up in all leagues for now. Just keep in mind that the Wiz only play one game this week, and that Lewis will eventually return from his knee injury. But it's also worth noting that the Wiz have a very nice fantasy playoff schedule, meaning Howard is worth a flier.

Clipped

Eric Gordon (wrist) is not likely to play for the Clippers on their current road trip, which doesn't end until Feb. 26, when they will face Boston in L.A. This is one of the longest road trips you'll ever see in the NBA, and while it's technically 11 games long, the Clips are "at the Lakers" on Friday, Feb. 25, which means they're back at the Staples Center. Either way, Gordon doesn't appear to be close to a return, so let's just hope he's ready to go for that game against the Lakers.

Chris Kaman (knee) is likely out for the remainder of the trip as well, and still remains a trade candidate. And just because Kaman might be coming back for the Clips doesn't mean he's automatically going to start over DeAndre Jordan. In fact, I'd be surprised if it happens.
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What's Up, Cuz?

DeMarcus Cousins missed Sunday's game after getting into a fight with teammate Donte Greene and then being banned from the team flight. Samuel Dalembert didn't mind, as he got a start and blew up for 18 points, 15 boards and three blocks in a win over the Suns. Dalembert is worth hanging onto for now, as the Kings still haven't decided what to do with Cousins. Until we get official word on when Cousins will return, he should probably be benched by fantasy owners.

Wolves, Lower

Michael Beasley said he was nearly pain free on Saturday, then proceeded to tweak his ankle again in Sunday's practice. My guess is he'll sit out tonight against the Blazers, but he's technically a game-time decision. The Wolves have two games this week and if Beasley can't go tonight, it would be a little surprising to see him miss Wednesday's game against the Clippers.

Darko Milicic's remains day-to-day with his hip injury. He's being dropped like a hot potato in fantasyland and cannot be started this week with his injury. If you still own him, watch for updates this afternoon. Martell Webster is expected to play through a sore back tonight, while coach Kurt Rambis hasn't yet decided whether to start Jonny Flynn or Luke Ridnour.

Black Hole Sun

Corey Maggette's back injury remains a complete mystery, which is pretty frustrating in all aspects. We should learn something later on Monday, but for now, he can't be in starting lineups. Carlos Delfino is the sneaky own/start of the week, but it's only sneaky if Maggette misses games with his injury. If Scott Skiles' funky rotations weren't enough to scare you away from drafting Bucks, the lack of news coming out of Milwaukee might do the trick next year.

Portlandia

Marcus Camby is hoping to return soon from his knee injury, but it hasn't happened as of yet. He keeps saying he's close to a return, while the Blazers don't seem so sure. He's been working out and ramping up his activity, but also still looks hobbled while doing so. The Blazers have two games this week and while there's a chance Camby will play in them, keep him benched until you see him on the court.

Brandon Roy's knees are feeling better and he's on the brink of playing again for the Blazers. He's targeting a Wednesday return and will come off the bench when it happens. This is no longer his team and I think he's going to be a headache to own in fantasy going forward. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think I'd rather own Josh Howard or Shaun Livingston at this point.

Kirilenko Out

Andrei Kirilenko's ankle injury didn't sound good when it happened and he has already been ruled out for Tuesday at Phoenix. The Jazz have two games this week, but Kirilenko should be planted firmly on your bench until further notice.

Okafor Out

Emeka Okafor's oblique strain will likely keep him out through the All-Star break. Aaron Gray and Jason Smith are filling in for him at center in New Orleans, but neither player is worth using in fantasy leagues.

Vinsanity Living Up To Nickname

Vince Carter was awful on Sunday when he scored just seven points, and while he's averaging just 18 minutes per game over his last three, he could easily bounce back from this one with a big line on Tuesday. But if I own him in a weekly league, I'm probably planting him on the bench if I have comparable two-game options.

Might I Suggest Miracle Whip?

O.J. Mayo is set to return from his 10-game suspension on Tuesday when the Grizzlies host the 76ers, but his value is still in the toilet thanks to the strong play of Sam Young and Tony Allen. Mayo is a big-time trade candidate, as Memphis has run out of use for him. If he doesn't get traded it's a completely wasted year, and if he does get moved, there are no guarantees that he suddenly becomes relevant.

Injury Roundup

Delonte West is targeting a Wednesday return from his broken wrist for the Celtics, and he should see some action due to Marquis Daniels' neck injury. But I doubt West will be worth owning this season.

Roddy Beaubois is nearing a return for Dallas from a foot injury, but is going to struggle to find his way into the mix. There are only two months left in the season and the Mavs' lineup and rotations are set. Had he come back in December, or even January, there would have been some hope that he could put up some solid numbers this season, but as it stands, I think he's going to struggle to offer much value at all this late into the season.

OKC's James Harden left Sunday's game with a back injury, putting his one-game week in jeopardy. He's a borderline fantasy player when healthy, so get him on your bench if you own him.

Daniel Gibson left Sunday's game with a strained quad and is day-to-day for the Cavs once again. That means Ramon Sessions and Manny Harris are still clinging to some fantasy value. Those two guys just won't go away, although neither is a must-own player, either.

Joakim Noah (thumb) is still on track for a return on Feb. 23, which means he's only going to miss two more games for the Bulls. If you've been thinking of acquiring him, now's the time to do it. And this also might be your last chance to sell high on Carlos Boozer.

 

[HacheMan]

Wired: Is Thornton ready?
I'm going to try to hit a record number of guys today, so forgive me for the quick hits nature of this one. Follow us on Twitter, if you're not already. I'm at @Docktora, while the rest of the crew, as well as the Rotoworld Hoops feed, are linked below.

@Rotoworld_BK
Aaron Bruski
Matt Stroup
Adam Levitan
Ryan Knaus

[SIZE=+1]Guards[/SIZE]

Sasha Vujacic – Nets

The kid has been hot since I cut him a week ago, scoring 25, 10 and 15 points in his last three games while hitting eight threes, collecting four steals and two blocks. I don't know how long his run is going to last, but he clearly enjoys playing for Avery Johnson.

Sam Young – Grizzlies

Young has been on this list lately but hasn't gone away. He's hit double figures in eight of his last nine games, all starts at shooting guard, and is averaging 16.5 points along with nearly four boards, two assists, two steals and a block in his six February games. Even when O.J. Mayo returns, it looks like Young may have won the starting job for good the rest of the way. Tony Allen remains a sneaky source of steals and blocks, but Young is a much more reliable option at this point.

Shaun Livingston – Bobcats

I'm sure you've heard about his big line on Saturday night by now, when he had a season-high 22 points while D.J. Augustin sat on the bench, kept his slump warm and watched the guy with one knee go nuts. I have no idea if DJA's slump is permanent or not, nor do I know if Livingston is actually going to get enough run to be an important fantasy pickup. What we do know is that Augustin will start again on Monday against the Lakers, but could be on a short leash if these events don't motivate him. If you have someone you want to cut and Livingston is available, he's worth a flier. Just keep in mind that he doesn't hit threes or steal the ball, and could go down with a serious injury at any moment. Additionally, I am not recommending that DJA be cut. Period.

Jodie Meeks – Sixers

Meeks has had a bit of an up and down season, but he's up again right now. He's scored between 12 and 17 points in seven of his last nine games and has hit 22 threes over that stretch. That's about all he's good for, but he's been getting it done for the last two weeks.

Leandro Barbosa – Raptors

Barbosa hasn't done a whole lot since his return from a nasty hamstring injury, but he was ballin' before he went down and should start producing again soon. In his seven January games prior to his injury, he was averaging 15 points, two rebounds, three assists, nearly two steals and two threes per game, and I see no reason why he won't get back to that form before long.

Jose Juan Barea – Mavericks

JJB has been nice for a couple weeks and is averaging 15 points, four assists and 1.7 3-pointers in February. Will he keep it going when Roddy Beaubois finally returns? I have no idea, but he's playing well enough to be given a look in all leagues, and has hit double figures in scoring in six of his last seven games.

George Hill – Spurs

Hill made a random start for the Spurs on Saturday as Gregg Popovich mixed up his starting lineup for the first time all year. However, it looks like Manu Ginobili will return to the starting five for his next one. But as the Spurs start to rest their guys as they coast toward the playoffs, Hill is a player who could rack up some points and threes for you in future. But at this point, he's only a deep-league add.

Marcus Thornton – Hornets

After a DNP-CD and a bunch of nothing recently, Thornton blew up for a season-high 24 points on Saturday. He's done this before and I don't trust that Monty Williams is ready to roll with him, but if you've had your eye on him, now's the time to grab him until we see what happens. But only if you have someone you want to get rid of. Willie Green is starting and is also worth a look, but I get the sense that he's been playing over his head.

Will Bynum – Pistons

If Tracy McGrady goes down, or continues to slump badly, Bynum is the guy you'll want to grab. He had six points in his last one, but scored 17 and 21 in his previous two. Just keep an eye on him and pounce if T-Mac drops.

Dahntay Jones – Pacers

This is a deep-league special, as he's not consistent enough to own in most leagues. But he's had some nice games for new coach Frank Vogel, scoring 19, 11 and 18 points in three of his last five games, but he doesn't do much else.

Keep reading for Forwards and Centers.
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[SIZE=+1]Forwards[/SIZE]

Carlos Delfino – Bucks

Corey Maggette went down on Saturday with a back injury and, of course, we don't know the severity of the injury yet. But if he's going to miss time, Delfino will quickly become relevant again. He scores, hits threes and does enough of everything else to be owned in all leagues if Maggette is out. Stay tuned.

Peja Stojakovic – Mavericks

He's starting at small forward and had 22 points and four threes on Saturday. I grabbed him in a deep league and plan on riding him until his body and back break down again, which is bound to happen. But as long as he's healthy and starting, he's probably worth owning in many leagues.

Omri Casspi – Kings

He's starting at small forward and has had six or more rebounds in 11 straight games, scoring in double figures in seven of those. He's not a must-own player, but if you need boards and threes, he could be your man.

Austin Daye – Pistons

Daye has shown some life lately, averaging 10 points, four boards, nearly a steal, a block and two threes per game in February. He'll have plenty of bad nights coming off the bench, but is getting enough run to be given a look in most leagues.

Brandon Bass – Magic

Bass returned on Sunday and had six points and eight boards. He should hurt Ryan Anderson and could be a decent source of double-doubles with some blocks once he's back in the flow. As for Anderson, I'm reluctant to drop him since he was playing so well when Bass was healthy, but he's been frustrating to own over the last 10 days.

Derrick Favors – Nets

Favors had nine points, 14 boards, a steal and a block on Saturday and continues to start over Kris Humphries. He was blasted by Avery Johnson recently, which could end up motivating him, but he'll be inconsistent, as usual. He's not a must-own player, and Humps is actually more reliable for now. But Favors is a player I'd add if he gets hot in three straight games.

Paul George – Pacers

George isn't killing it for fantasy owners, but has been playing well enough to be held in many leagues. He's averaging 10 points, four boards and nearly a steal and 3-pointer per game in February, but will also be inconsistent coming off the bench. He does enough in several categories to be given a serious look going forward.

Josh McRoberts – Pacers

McBob is starting for Indy and is averaging close to 10 points, six boards and three assists in February. He'll also occasionally contribute some threes and blocks, but is not a must-own player yet. But I would rather own him than Tyler Hansbrough, who is coming off the bench.

[SIZE=+1]Centers[/SIZE]

DeJuan Blair – Spurs

Blair has finally arrived and should continue to log serious minutes as the Spurs roll into the playoffs. He's averaging 14 points, 11 boards, 1.6 steals, 0.9 blocks and is shooting 54 percent in February. At this point, he's as must-own as they come.

Chuck Hayes – Rockets

Hayes has somehow had value for a couple months and is averaging 11 points, 9.5 boards, 2.5 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.8 blocks in February. He's also shooting lights our and making some free throws, and is another guy who should be owned in most leagues.

Greg Monroe – Pistons

Monroe is averaging 11 points, 8.5 boards and nearly a steal and block per game in February, despite the return of Ben Wallace. He's probably not available in your league, but is worth grabbing if he is sitting out there.

Kendrick Perkins – Celtics

Perk is back and is averaging eight points, 10 boards and 1.6 blocks in February. He's the only healthy center the Celtics have right now and should get better as the season rolls to a close.

DeAndre Jordan – Clippers

Jordan broke out of a funk recently and has averaged 12 points, eight boards and a block over his last two games. The return of Chris Kaman isn't going to help, but I'd still rather own DJ over Kaman for now.

Andris Biedrins – Warriors

Biedrins had two terrible games against the Suns in the past week and there's still talk about Ekpe Udoh replacing him in the starting lineup in the near future. However, when he's played well lately, he's been good enough to own in fantasy leagues. He's had 10 or more boards in four of his last seven games, and has blocked nine shots over that stretch. He's not an auto-start player at this point, but if you're desperate for a center, he's worth a look.

Samuel Dalembert – Kings

Sammy D has been very unpredictable and will start on Sunday after DeMarcus Cousins freaked out and got into a fight with Donte Greene on the team flight after Saturday's game. He's averaging 8.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in February, but is still usually coming off the bench behind Jason Thompson. Again, he's worth holding in most leagues, but is not an auto-start.

Kwame Brown – Bobcats

Kwame missed some time for personal reasons recently and has cooled off a bit. He's averaging seven points, seven boards and a less than a block per game in February, but is still worth a look if you need a center in a deep league.

Ekpe Udoh – Warriors

There is talk that Udoh is going to eventually become a starter, or at least see a boost in minutes so the Warriors can see what they have in their young big man. He qualifies as a prospective add at this point, but I obviously wouldn't cut a solid player for him. But it's possible that he's starting and putting up decent big-man numbers two weeks from now. Just keep an eye on him.

 

[HacheMan]

NBA Trade Deadline Review

Once his season started, Gilbert Arenas had a nice little run – providing fourth round 8-cat value to owners that took a risk on draft day. Jason Richardson also found himself with fourth round value, until that fateful day on December 18 when it was announced that the Magic, Wizards, and Suns would make be making a fantasy omelet.

Since then, Gilly has a removed the word 'agent' from his nickname, providing 17th round value to owners who simply call him 'zero.' Richardson? He has managed 10th round value, while Hedo Turkoglu has probably given his newfound value to somebody other than the owner that drafted him.

We don't need to look too far into fantasy history for more examples like these, which begs the question – what is an owner to do?

By the time definitive reports hit the wire that your best player has been traded, or that a trade is imminent, it's too late. And with this year's 'I will break you if you call it Melodrama one more time,' um, Melodrama – owners in both fantasy and reality are waiting for the first domino to fall.

Until then, trade traffic has officially been suspended until the artists over at CAA, and their partners over at ESPN, can convince Donnie Walsh to throw Denver a bone. And if you thought that Walsh wasn't going to chew every little piece of meat off of it before telling Denver to go fetch it, well then you don't know Donnie.

But wait! What about the Nets? What about the Lakers? What about Masai Ujiri and Josh Kroenke telling New Jersey to kick rocks, that their offer wasn't enough? What about giving the finger to New York and trading him this summer? What about holding on and making one more playoff run? What about sending Melo to Siberia, or better yet, Dallas? What about Chris Broussard? He knows these guys so well he may as well be an agent.

Nuggets fans don't want to hear this, the Denver brass knows it but they can't say it, and Carmelo Anthony has known it the entire time – which is that all Melo has needed to do is 'encourage' Walsh to part with one dollar more than the best offer that, get this, Melo will agree to.

That is, of course, unless Denver can find an offer without his consent that will beat the Knicks' standing offer of Wilson Chandler and Mike D'Antoni's mustache. Anybody? Buehler?

Crickets.

The twisted part about Anthony knowingly and purposely reducing Denver's leverage by telling the world that New York is the only place he will sign an extension – is that the same team that he is hurting – is the same team that is going to eventually help him get his way. And why would they do this you ask?

Because they have to.

The sign and trade offer they can get over the summer, the one that the Denver media wants you to believe is worth something, won't be worth much if LeBron James' deal is any indicator. James was ultimately traded for two first round picks and two second round picks, and I'm sure you don't need me to tell you where the Heat will be picking from in the next five years. Yes, they're picks, but for every Landry Fields there are 50 Tiny Gallons.

And the Nets? Until there is one single report that quotes Melo or his representative directly in saying that, 'yes, he will sign the extension,' it simply doesn't count as an offer. And what about Melo possibly losing money by not signing an extension now? Well that assumes that a) he cares enough to go somewhere he doesn't want to play, b) he hasn't figured out ways to minimize the loss, and c) that the players' resolve in the upcoming CBA negotiations doesn't marginalize the loss.

And the so-called 'rental' teams? Can they give up more than the Knicks? Anything is possible, but the fact that the existence of such an offer hasn't been used to leverage the Knicks doesn't bode well for that theory, nor does the implicit value that a rental brings in return. And what about the chance that these teams will trade significant assets without a guarantee that he will sign an extension? That's crazy talk.

What about Denver hanging on to him and making a playoff run? Or what about hoping that a new CBA comes along and provides a franchise tag, or some other mechanism to keep Melo in Denver? Ujiri would be committing career-suicide in the likely event that he's left with nothing, with talk radio callers blasting him daily for getting nothing in return, a situation he witnessed up close in Toronto with Chris Bosh.

The Nuggets' brass aren't stupid. They know what these permutations are, and they've known from the beginning that Anthony would exert his leverage to get what he wanted. And like Anthony, they've known that their best deal has always been with New York – that is if you're counting deals that actually had a chance.

With a wink and nod to Anthony, knowing full-well that he had killed any chance of a good deal by leveraging his contractual rights, they set forth to make the best of a bad situation. And if the Nuggets could somehow stumble upon a new team that Melo would extend with, or draw the process out until they caught a lucky break, well then that was icing on the cake.

That is why you've seen reports that the Melo was imminently agreeing to become a Net, reports that Andrew Bynum was being considered for powdered blue, reports that Melo would consider signing his extension in Denver, reports that Denver didn't think the Nets' entire roster was enough in return, reports that Mark Cuban and Daryl Morey would be willing to gamble their future on a rental, and let's not forgot, a television station in Denver that said Melo to the Nets was a done deal.

None of them were true, not for one second, but getting an old dog like Walsh to stop gnawing on the bone is not your everyday challenge. Denver wants to get the most that they can, and Melo wants his extension, and the only way to ensure that is to throw the kitchen sink at him. And Walsh is going to give them both what they want, because he too cannot afford to lose a bird in his hand – not when they're already chanting Melo's name in the Garden.

And while all of this can be entirely wrong, or some mystery team could appear out of thin air, owners still have a chance to decide for themselves. The Chris Broussards of the world get air time, and their reports get repeated as fact, and next thing you know some radio host is talking about how Melo is about to join the Lakers. That ambiguity may be the only thing left that can save owners. After all, there are owners who believe that the Nets have the best offer on the table, and that Denver has leverage in holding out for a sign-and-trade this summer. Ultimately, you have to decide what makes sense and what doesn't, but at least right now you still have a chance.

Click here for the NBA's most likely trade candidates….
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[SIZE=+1]NBA Trade Deadline Candidates[/SIZE]

Carmelo Anthony

The potential trade in its most recently reported form: Anthony to NY, Eddy Curry to MIN, Anthony Randolph to MIN, MIN 1st Round pick to DEN, Corey Brewer to DEN, and Wilson Chandler to DEN.

If Carmelo is traded to the Knicks, owners should not adjust his value. Yes, he will have to share the ball with Amare, but the marginal increase in game-tempo should offset that. Either way, he is being brought in to be Carmelo Anthony, not Danilo Gallinari.

For current Knicks, this is the fallout if the trade goes down:

Amare Stoudemire may see a few less touches and get a few less boards, but owners should not concern themselves with it, as any potential gain in a sell-high trade is marginalized by the small chance that Melo remains in Denver. The real concern lies with owners of Raymond Felton, Landry Fields, Wilson Chandler, and Danilo Gallinari. With Amare and Melo both getting 20 field goal attempts per game right now, it stands to reason that Felton will have a hard time keeping up his current pace of 15 FGAs per game. Expect the number of pick-and-rolls for Felton to also decrease, and since Melo isn't a catch and shoot type of guy, there won't be a corresponding bump in assists for Felton there.

Wilson Chandler's value is down right now, so his owners likely won't face the question of whether to sell high, but I'm not thrilled with his move to Denver or anywhere else for that matter. He has slumped due to the trade rumors recently and that could carry over into a new environment. Breaking even should be considered a win. Danilo Gallinari's name has been omitted from discussions over the past month, but it's not out of the realm of possibility that it gets thrown back in. Either way, he's due for a small hit if he stays in New York, and faces an uncertain future elsewhere. Fields, a borderline play already, faces the same issues as the rest and also takes a slight hit.

Minnesota may opt to deal with New York individually, and it's believed that Randolph can be traded for a late first round pick and Roger Mason, who would be waived.

There have also been talks that Raymond Felton and Chauncey Billups could be added to the Melo trade, and while Felton seems to be an unlikely player to move after just being signed, there is enough smoke here not to discount it. Marc Berman of the NY Post writes that since Billups' contract is not guaranteed for next season, it would free up money for the Knicks to go after Tyson Chandler, and conveniently leaves a spot open for Chris Paul. Billups' agent did not respond when asked if Billups would request a buyout, and the thought is that he would welcome a chance to play in New York.

With Denver already holding a 'PG of the future' in Ty Lawson, this scenario starts to make sense if multiple teams get involved, and there's not enough to hold onto here for Felton's owners to factor it in their decision-making. The same goes for Billups' owners, though the thought of him running Mike D'Antoni's offense is admittedly appealing.

As for the rumors of Anthony being traded to L.A., they should be disregarded until a reputable source reports that they are anything other than a P.R. ploy by the Nuggets and Team Melo, or a motivational ploy by Team Buss.

The last point for owners to consider is one made by ESPN's Marc Stein, which is that sources tell him that Denver would prefer to get the deal done sooner rather than later, in order to allow for them to make subsequent trades before the deadline. This is somewhat contradictory to the idea that they'll wait until the last second to maximize their options, but they will need time to make the moves they've been discussing with other teams. One of those moves is……

Nene

Nene is the most likely Nugget to get traded if/when Carmelo Anthony gets traded before the deadline, as he has an $11.6 million option for next season that he is expected to forego to become a free agent. In a rebuilding scenario he is as good as gone, and he has been linked to Rockets, Warriors, and the Thunder. The Rockets should be considered the favorites right now, because they have the most flexibility and are the most motivated among the three to make a deal.

Fantasy Fallout: This isn't great news for owners of Chuck Hayes, though the Rockets did make comments that they were looking for "younger, unproven players," which would be the opposite of Nene. Likewise, Serge Ibaka would take a hit if Nene lands in Oklahoma, and the Warriors would likely have to convince Denver to take on Biedrins before a deal for Nene could be made. As for Nene, his value will remain mostly constant in any of the three aforementioned locations, though with Hayes playing well it's a legitimate concern that Nene's minutes could take a small hit in Houston.

J.R. Smith

He is the red-headed stepchild of the Melo trade process, with questions of his maturity abound, and no clear destination in sight. It sounds like the Nuggets would like to trade him, but he's a peripheral concern right now.

Fantasy Fallout: Owners should simply watch him for now. He could go from borderline to big time if he were to land in the right place.

Jeff Green

Beat writer Darnell Mayberry thinks that it's unlikely that he gets traded before the deadline, but there has been a lot of interest in him league-wide. That's because he is probably not in the Thunder's long-term plans, and GM Sam Presti could make a move to win-now if the offer is right.

Fantasy Fallout: He is utilized as a third or fourth option in OKC, and it's entirely possible that he would be used more by a potential new team. Owners shouldn't change their evaluation of him much, if at all, but realize that a trade would probably help in more cases than it would hurt.

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Anthony Parker

Looking like one of the more realistic trade possibilities, the Bulls have reportedly been in discussions with the Cavs and can have him for a 2nd round pick.

Fantasy Fallout: The move would clear up space in the Cavs' backcourt. While Daniel Gibson has also been a rumored target of the Bulls, he gets a slight boost due to the reasonable nature of this deal, as does Ramon Sessions and even Manny Harris.

Mo Williams

While his name has not been brought up in rumors with specific teams attached, the Cavs have made most of their roster available and it is widely known that Mo is one of them.

Fantasy Fallout: His value is down due to his hip concerns anyway, so owners should simply hang tight and see what happens. The bigger impact belongs to Ramon Sessions, who Cleveland views as a capable PG for their short-term future. Owners should be stashing Sessions until the trade deadline passes.

Corey Brewer

GM David Kahn says he doesn't want to trade Brewer, but most believe that he is posturing given his logjam at the wing positions, and the fact that he didn't choose to extend Brewer when he had the chance. Brewer's name has really only seen air-time in the Carmelo deal, and should he arrive in Denver he would find himself in yet another crowded wing situation.

Fantasy Fallout: No change, he's still a borderline asset, at best. Wesley Johnson would conceivably get a bump, but his recent poor play is the proverbial wet blanket.

Stephen Jackson

He has drawn interest from the Mavs, Bulls, and Lakers, and that interest gets peaked every time he straps on his 'championship belt' after a game-winning shot. While he makes love to pressure, owners aren't going to love the impact of him moving into a supporting role.

Fantasy Fallout: He is a strong sell-high candidate right now. His act has grown tiresome in Charlotte, and their playoff hopes are fading. Being a less-mentioned trade candidate, it's also more likely that other owners don't know about the possibility of him getting swapped.

Gerald Wallace

His name has also been mentioned, but less so than virtually all of the trade candidates.

Fantasy Fallout: There's not enough for owners to go on to change their valuation of Crash at this time. Just keep an eye out in case the rumors intensify.

Steve Nash

There are plenty of teams interested in him, but none of them have offered anything compelling according to recent reports. The Suns, for their part, do not seem eager to move him, either. They've said that they would not seek a trade unless Nash himself wanted one, which is somewhat unbelievable, but they're not going to bend over backwards without a compelling offer. It's more likely that they look to move him in the offseason, if anything.

Fantasy Fallout: Nash's owners can be cautiously optimistic that he will remain a Sun for the rest of the season.

Andre Iguodala

He was one of the more talked about names a few months back, but now that the Sixers are rolling behind him, he has all but fallen off the trade rumor circuit. Of course, the minute Philly stops pushing him onto the public is probably when they will get the best offers, and given his hot play we wouldn't rule a trade out. We just wouldn't call it likely right now, either.

Fantasy Fallout: It doesn't look like Jrue Holiday will be getting the term 'point' back onto his business guard via the trade deadline.

Deron Williams

There was some discussion that he might be made available after taking heat for Jerry Sloan's exit, with the fear being that he will leave Utah as a free agent, but most agree that it's simply too soon for the Jazz to entertain moving him.

Fantasy Fallout: None. Treat him as you normally would.

Aaron Brooks

He was rumored to be on the block about a week ago, but those reports were quickly denied by the Rockets, who cite his relatively cheap contract and status as a restricted free agent as barriers to trading him. If the Rockets wanted to trade him they could and would, but they genuinely don't seem interested in it right now.

Fantasy Fallout: This is bad news, and while he is still worth a stash until the trade deadline passes, he is not a must-stash at this time.

Antawn Jamison and David West

Jamison doesn't think he will be traded due to his large salary for next year ($15.1 million), and there are a few other voices that share his opinion, but it won't be for a lack of trying on the Cavs' part. He has been linked to New Orleans, who are reportedly looking for a stretch 'four,' and are also staring down the decision of what to do with David West. West recently turned down an extension offer from the Hornets, as the Hornets will have to balance the demands of Chris Paul to add talent, as well as the prospects of losing West for nothing. They might believe that they're going to lose Paul, anyway, so there are a few ways this could go.

Fantasy Fallout: We've been touting Jamison as a sell-high candidate for some time. If it isn't his balky knee, his outlook as a shutdown candidate in Cleveland isn't great, nor is his value on a team that isn't comprised of mostly D-Leaguers. Should West get put on the market, he will have no shortage of suitors, and he would have to land in a pretty loaded lineup to not get 30+ mpg. Adjusting his value isn't worthwhile at this time.

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Vince Carter

He is owne just $4 million on his contract next year, limiting his value as an expiring contract next season, and teams just aren't lining up for his services. That may change as the trade wheels get greased league-wide, but for now there just isn't a lot of interest.

Fantasy Fallout: This is great news. It's hard to imagine him having a better situation than Phoenix.

Troy Murphy

We haven't heard a squawk about him since he almost went Robocop on Detroit, but he is definitely for sale by owner. The concerns here are pretty obvious – he hasn't played a real, live game of basketball in about a year, and there is no guarantee that his landing spot will be devoid of competition.

Fantasy Fallout: The deeper the league the better the stash, but in 12-team leagues he's probably only worth watching.

Anthony Randolph

Had Ant-Rand played anywhere other than Golden State and New York to start his career, he would probably be viewed in a more sober light, particularly in Don Nelson's case. The expectations have detracted from what he really is, which is a freakishly athletic player with little to no basketball IQ. In his most likely trade destination, Minnesota, he will be viewed as a project and play behind Michael Beasley and Kevin Love, and is no sure bet to beat out Anthony Tolliver for time, either. If the Minnesota deal somehow falls apart, Houston and Indiana have also expressed interest. In fact, with Houston saying that they may end up taking "young, but unproven talent," they may have been talking in code to us. In Houston, he would hold a bit more value than in Minny, and while Chuck Hayes has emerged as one of the NBA's premier defenders – Randolph's height and athleticism would be sorely needed.

Fantasy Fallout: Owners may want to stash him if a trade proves more favorable than currently forecasted, but in 12-team leagues he should be left on the wire in most cases.

Andre Miller, Devin Harris, Wesley Matthews, and Rudy Fernandez

Miller says that he feels like he is going to be traded, and with the Blazers having expressed interest in Devin Harris in the past, a swap with the Nets could make sense. Regardless of that potential outcome, the 37-year old PG with an unguaranteed contract next season has been in trade rumors for most of the year. Chad Ford of ESPN also reports that Wesley Matthews is gaining interest on trade market, and that Nicolas Batum and LaMarcus Aldridge are the only untouchables.

Fantasy Fallout: For Miller, he profiles as a guy to provide veteran leadership for his new squad, but isn't necessarily going to command the starting gig wherever he goes. He could be brought in as a mentor to a young PG on a rebuilding team, or as a stabilizing force for a playoff team's second unit, but barring an injury to a playoff team's starter a trade probably doesn't bode well for him. The only thing working in his favor is that GM Rich Cho is less likely to seek trades than some of his counterparts.

Trade talks for Harris have died down since the Nets fell out of contention for Melo, but a move to Portland could be considered lateral. As for Fernandez and Matthews, there is simply not enough information out there for owners to move the needle. Just keep an eye on the situation for now.

O.J. Mayo

He has been called 'eminently available,' and when you mix his PED suspension with his upside you get a cheap asset that GMs will be calling on. Nobody has knocked the socks off of the Grizzlies so far, but I like his chances of getting moved.

Fantasy Fallout: There are enough red flags surrounding him, that when combined with his lack of versatility, he still belongs on the waiver wire for the time being. The lack of specific reports naming interested teams went a long way toward forming my opinion, as I think teams still don't know what to make of him.

Samuel Dalembert

Though the DeMarcus Cousins drama is unseemly, the truth is that there are 29 other teams that would gladly take him off the Kings' hands. The means that Dalembert's situation is mostly unchanged. He is an unrestricted free agent after this season, but with teams like the Thunder and the Rockets looking for big men, among others, Dalembert may just get his wish and get out of Sacto.

Fantasy Fallout: With no leader in the clubhouse for his services, owners should just sit back and wait to see how things play out.

Boris Diaw

He has officially been put onto the trade market by the Bobcats, and it's more likely that a trade will hurt him more than help him, as Charlotte is one of the few places that will put up with a passive, out of shape big man for starter's minutes.

Fantasy Fallout: He is owned $9 million for next season, which is a bit much for him, so owners shouldn't expect a trade to be imminent, at the least. If you need a tie-breaker when deciding on him, you may decide that a trade for him isn't great for business.

Zach Randolph

With the Grizzlies all but committed to Marc Gasol, Randolph is as good as gone this summer. The Nets, Warriors, and Rockets have all been linked to him, and his $17 million expiring contract will be an attractive asset league-wide.

Fantasy Fallout: He is really flying underneath the radar right now, and this should be considered sell-high territory. Most owners probably aren't aware of his contract situation, and a trade to a contender would almost certainly turn his green light yellow.

Chris Kaman

He has shown up on the wish lists of Houston and Oklahoma City, and in particular a Jeff Green for Chris Kaman trade sounds like an intriguing prospect, though that is more me connecting dots than it is about hearing it through the grapevine. Should the Thunder add Kaman, they would have him for just one more year under his current contract, preserving their long-term flexibility.

Fantasy Fallout: Kaman is a decent stash regardless of where he plays, as once he is healthy he is a strong bet to find his way on the court and produce. He projects to have the least competition for minutes in Oklahoma City, though, where they would presumably deal away Nenad Krstic in order to make room for him – leaving him as the team's only real center.

Trade Deadline Quick Hits: Andris Biedrins, Kris Humphries, and Anderson Varejao are some names being kicked around in Oklahoma and Houston, while you can add Anthony Randolph, Marcus Camby, Omer Asik, Kyrylo Fesenko, and Hasheem Thabeet to Houston's list, too. The Rockets have much of their team available, including Shane Battier, Courtney Lee, Jordan Hill, Jared Jeffries, and Yao Ming's insurance-covered expiring contract. Aside from Anthony Parker, the Bulls are looking at Lee and Daniel Gibson among other SGs. If anybody's going to go in Utah, look first at Andrei Kirilenko who is earning $17.8 million this year. If anybody could make a trade for Richard Hamilton work it would be the Jazz, as Rip is making $13 million per year for the next two years. With the Pistons' sale nearing completion, they're unlikely to be players at the deadline due to the time crunch, and recent reports have had them uninterested in trading Tayshaun Prince. Paul Westphal doesn't think the Kings will make any trades, and if GM Geoff Petrie does make a trade he wants it to be salary cap-neutral. The Cavs have the $14 million trade exception from the LeBron James trade but may not use it. They simply aren't in the market for high-priced free agents. It seems like a long shot, but the backcourt of Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry isn't 100% safe from the trade deadline. If the Melo trade wasn't holding things up, we'd probably hear their names in more conversations. Ron Artest is unlikely to be traded, and the Bobcats have no interest in him.

 

[HacheMan]

Embattled Augustin
Coaches make far less money than players. They don't put fans in the seats like players and they take the blame when things go wrong. But coaches do hold one trump card -- they control the minutes.

So when a player's concentration or effort level dips, the most effective way to get that back is to threaten roles. We saw it in Golden State with Andris Biedrins, and we are seeing it now in Charlotte with struggling D.J. Augustin.

NBA coaches are constantly tinkering, toying and yanking around with rotations. The effect this has on minutes played and statistical production is where we come in.

Each week in this space, I'll explore the rotations of half the league's teams while attempting to get inside coaches' heads and rotations. The idea is not to tell you what Kevin Durant and LeBron James are going to do -- it's to decipher how much production we can get out of fringe players. Last week, I hit the West. Let's start this week off with the battle for point guard minutes in Charlotte.

* Note that lineups listed reflect the starters in the team's previous game. Stats are through Monday's games unless otherwise noted.

<BIG>CHARLOTTE</BIG>
PG D.J. Augustin
SG Stephen Jackson
SF Gerald Wallace
PF Boris Diaw
C Kwame Brown

The controversy between D.J. Augustin and Shaun Livingston has seemingly erupted out of nowhere. Augustin was coasting along, averaging 18.1 points, 7.3 assists and 1.9 treys per game in 16 January contests. Then the bottom absolutely fell out on his shooting stroke. Entering Monday, Augustin was shooting 29.9 percent in his last seven games, got benched in favor of Livingston on Saturday and picked up a left wrist injury. Yikes.

Coach Paul Silas appeared to enter Monday night's game against the Lakers with a premeditated rotation. Augustin played the entire first quarter and Livingston played the entire second quarter. Augustin then played the first nine minutes of the third quarter and the final six minutes of the game. That kind of rotation, one used when a coach doesn't see a huge gap between his starter and backup, results in 27 minutes for Augustin and 21 for Livingston.

This kind of rotation also says that Silas is not willing to give up on Augustin. If he plays well, DJA will get back around 30-32 minutes. If he doesn't this value-killing timeshare will remain. Either way, Livingston does not project as a long-term starter in this league anymore. His injuries are just too severe and the Bobcats know it. Leave Livingston on waivers and stash Augustin -- he's a good bet to get back to that January form.

<BIG>ATLANTA</BIG>
PG Mike Bibby
SG Joe Johnson
SF Josh Smith
PF Al Horford
C Jason Collins

Coach Larry Drew has been threatening lineup changes in an effort to put a jolt into his struggling team. The problem is that there is not much he can do. Jason Collins drew the start Monday night, but shuttling between the big man and Marvin Williams makes almost no difference. Marvin averages just 11.0/5.0/1.3 with no defensive stats or treys as a starter anyway. Ignore.

One adjustment that Drew has made is sitting Jamal Crawford down when the gunner is cold. Crawford has played 29 or fewer minutes in four of his last six games and he is shooting 37.2 percent over that span. Stash and wait for the sixth man of the year to get hot again.

<BIG>BOSTON</BIG>
PG Rajon Rondo
SG Ray Allen
SF Paul Pierce
PF Kevin Garnett
C Kendrick Perkins

With Kendrick Perkins healthy and looking as good as ever, Shaquille O'Neal can afford to rest his achy Achilles, hip and soul. And since both Semih Erden and Jermaine O'Neal are also out indefinitely, Perkins is back to being a force.

Over the last five games, Perkins is averaging 9.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 32.5 minutes per game. Those minutes will come down once all the bodies get healthy, but who knows when that will be. Owners might as well ride Perk into the ground.

Paul Pierce could certainly use a rest. Sunday's 0-for-10, the ensuing foot MRI and a right (shooting) hand tweak tell us that. Owners should be hoping he just lounges throughout All-Star weekend instead of exerting himself. Still, we need to be realistic about his first half. Pierce is a career 44.7 percent shooter. He shot 49.6 in the season's first 53 games. A natural regression in his shooting -- but not minutes -- can be expected.

Editor's Note: Draft a hoops team just for tonight and win real cash in SnapDraft!

<BIG>CHICAGO</BIG>
PG Derrick Rose
SG Keith Bogans
SF Luol Deng
PF Carlos Boozer
C Kurt Thomas

Joakim Noah (hand) is targeting Feb. 23 -- the first game after the All-Star break -- for his return. He is reportedly in excellent physical shape and since his game does not rely on touch, we can safely expect instant production/minutes. Look for him to start the first or second game he dresses, sending Kurt Thomas to the waiver wire.

The Bulls do not want to pull the trigger on an Omer Asik for Courtney Lee trade. That tells me they are okay with Keith Bogans and Ronnie Brewer maintaining their timeshare. Stashing O.J. Mayo and hoping he becomes the Bulls' starting two guard is a desperate play.

Editor's Note: For weekly projections, daily pickup advice, exclusive columns and much more, check out Rotoworld's Season Pass!

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<BIG>CLEVELAND</BIG>
PG Mo Williams
SG Anthony Parker
SF Christian Eyenga
PF Antawn Jamison
C J.J. Hickson

Byron Scott has made a couple things very clear: First, he considers Mo Williams his starting point guard, no matter how well Ramon Sessions is playing. Second, he views Daniel Gibson as a scorer off the bench.

We can't be certain if the Cavs are simply showcasing Williams for a trade, but his contract is going to be extremely difficult to move. He is making $9.3 million this year and has two years and $17 million left after that. With the new CBA looming, it's hard to see a team willing to take that much money on. The same can be said for Antawn Jamison (due $15 million next season).

So, we are looking at Sessions as a backup point guard. Here is coach Byron Scott on the situation: "[Sessions'] role hasn't changed, just his minutes have changed." That is about as clear as it gets.

Even with Daniel Gibson (quad) out again, Sessions' arrow is pointing way down. In 21 starts this year, he is averaging 32.1 minutes per game. In 33 games off the bench, that number falls to 24.1. Hold Sessions through the deadline, but we will likely have to cut bait after that.

Speaking of cutting bait, Daniel Gibson's latest quad aggravation is a headache. Scott is on the record saying that he prefers Gibson off the bench no matter what, so minutes will be sporadic even when healthy. Look for anywhere from 20 to 32 minutes a night behind Anthony Parker, depending on game flow. If you can deal with the headaches, you'll get about 2.0 3-pointers per game when it is said and done.

Christian Eyenga is locked in as the starting small forward. The Cavs are high on his future and are giving him a chance to spread his wings. He won't score much despite 27-plus minutes nightly, but deep leaguers could use his steals and blocks.

<BIG>DETROIT</BIG>
PG Tracy McGrady
SG Rodney Stuckey
SF Tayshaun Prince
PF Greg Monroe
C Ben Wallace

In this space two weeks, ago I predicted Ben Gordon would be relegated to a sixth man role once Rodney Stuckey got healthy. Every squirrel finds a nut sometimes. Stuckey and Tracy McGrady are locked in as the starting backcourt, leaving Gordon with 24-27 minutes a night. Once T-Mac gets hurt, Stuckey would kick to point guard and Gordon would likely rejoin the starting five.

Meanwhile, Stuckey's minutes will gradually rise. Coach John Kuester sees the combo guard as his best bet to win, even when guys like Will Bynum and Gordon have it going. Look for Stuckey to settle in around 30-32 minutes the rest of the way as a low-end fantasy option.

The Pistons have chose to run with a twin towers lineup of Greg Monroe at power forward and Ben Wallace at center. It shows their commitment to developing Monroe, but it doesn't help the rookie's inconsistency. He appears bothered by playing next to Big Ben and has scored less than 10 points in each of his last four games. The good news is that we know the minutes will be here, there's room to grow.

<BIG>INDIANA</BIG>
PG Darren Collison
SG Mike Dunleavy
SF Danny Granger
PF Josh McRoberts
C Roy Hibbert

Interim coach Frank Vogel has used the exact same starting five in each of his eight games, producing an impressive 7-1 record. Let's look at some minutes per game over that stretch.

WINGS
Danny Granger: 34.1
Mike Dunleavy: 24.0
Paul George: 23.4
Dahntay Jones: 14.5

Note that Brandon Rush (ankle) is relatively healthy, but there is simply no room for him in the rotation with the team playing like it is right now. That leaves Mike Dunleavy and Paul George locked in a nearly even timeshare, something that figures to continue the rest of the way. George is the one to take a shot on as the player with greater upside, but he's a poor bet for difference-making stats this season. There just are not enough minutes and Rush is talented enough to fill in should Dunleavy get hurt. In standard-sized formats, this whole situation is "hands off" outside of Danny Granger.

POWER FORWARD
Josh McRoberts: 26.6
Tyler Hansbrough: 21.8

These two have settled into their roles nicely. Hansbrough has proven he can be a strong scoring option with the second unit, while McRoberts stabilizes the starters with his unselfish play. Hansbrough clearly has the better offensive game, but his lack of steals, blocks or assists is embarrassing. So with the edge in minutes likely to hold and the better fantasy game, McRoberts is the one to own here for deep leaguers.

There is not much to say about Roy Hibbert, other than it is going down just as we thought it would. In the eight games under Vogel, Hibbert is averaging 16.3 points, 7.9 boards and 1.5 blocks. He has been moved to the block and the Pacers are now playing inside-out instead of simply chucking up treys. Expect 31-33 minutes of high-end production nightly the rest of the way.

<BIG>MIAMI</BIG>
PG Mario Chalmers
SG Dwyane Wade
SF LeBron James
PF Chris Bosh
C Zydrunas Ilgauskas

The Heat have started playing without a point guard on the court for huge portions of games. Over the last six games, Mario Chalmers is playing 21.9 minutes while Carlos Arroyo has a DNP-CD in five of those. Coach Erik Spoelstra is fine with using Dwyane Wade or LeBron James as his point guard as he looks toward the playoffs. Both are lined up for monster minutes.

Meanwhile, this bench continues to be a wasteland. Mike Miller will have a decent game randomly, but there is simply not enough shots to go around. Over the last eight games, he is averaging just 5.8 attempts per game. Even his roto-friendly skill set can’t survive that.

Random stat: Joel Anthony is averaging 2.6 blocks per 36 minutes.

<BIG>MILWAUKEE</BIG>
PG Brandon Jennings
SG John Salmons
SF Carlos Delfino
PF Ersan Ilyasova
C Andrew Bogut

Corey Maggette's back injury is not considered overly serious -- it would be a surprise if he is not ready right after the All-Star break. At that point, it will be a battle between Maggette and Carlos Delfino for minutes. Considering that the Bucks are dead last in the NBA in scoring at an anemic 91.2 points per game, they badly need someone that can create their own shot and get to the line. That man is Maggette. They also need someone to stretch the floor with 3-point shooting. That man is Delfino.

Here is a quote from coach Scott Skiles Monday night when he announced that Maggette would be out. "I want to get Carlos back in there and this gives me an opportunity to do it." There is enough room here for both players to play around 30 minutes. The Bucks will just have to sacrifice Chris Douglas-Roberts and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. Hold both Delfino and Maggette -- with Delfino as the preferred option thanks to his extreme roto-friendly game.

John Salmons is not part of the wing battle here. Much like Danny Granger in Indiana, Salmons is above the fray. Salmons has played in 75 games for the Bucks over the last 1 1/2 years, starting 70 of those. The only ones he didn't start were right after the trade and last week when he was coming off injury. He is locked in to 34-37 minutes nightly.

<BIG>NEW JERSEY</BIG>
PG Devin Harris
SG Anthony Morrow
SF Travis Outlaw
PF Derrick Favors
C Brook Lopez

Anthony Morrow has resumed his starting role and logging huge minutes. In his last six games heading into Monday night, the sharpshooter was averaging 11.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 treys per game in 34.5 minutes a night. He projects to maintain that kind of workload, making two-plus treys a night a strong bet going forward.

Meanwhile, Travis Outlaw is on the verge of losing his starting job due to ineffectiveness. Heading into Monday, Outlaw had started 50 games but was shooting 38.4 percent. It's just not good enough, and Damion James will take over as soon as he is healthy. Look for an even timeshare, with neither player emerging with any value.

Coach Avery Johnson is going to keep starting Derrick Favors, but he doesn't seem too happy about it. Here is a recent quote from Johnson: "Even next year, Favors is not going to be a stud. He's not going to be able to play 38 minutes. Who knows when? You see him every night. He's not ready." The current timeshare (20 minutes for Favors, 27 for Kris Humphries) will remain the status quo.

<!--RW-->

<BIG>NEW YORK</BIG>
PG Raymond Felton
SG Landry Fields
SF Danilo Gallinari
PF Wilson Chandler
C Timofey Mozgov

Coach Mike D'Antoni likes the idea of playing a true center next to Amare Stoudemire and he is intrigued by Timofey Mozgov's raw skills. As long as the big Russian does not completely faceplant, he'll start going forward. Here are Mozgov's numbers over his last four games since earning the promotion: 8.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, 26.5 minutes. Those are reasonable expectations going forward.

Amare Stoudemire's toe injury does not sound serious, but he would be wise to sit out Wednesday anyway as it is the last before the All-Star break. That means Wilson Chandler (assuming he does not get traded) would stick in the starting five for just one more game.

Owners of Chandler should be hoping for a trade to Denver. In 30 starts this year, Chandler is averaging 37.9 minutes. In 20 games off the bench, he gets 29.3. It is still enough to have value in New York, but Chandler's upside is capped as a reserve. In Denver, he would settle nicely into a starting small forward role and would not have to fight for shots with Carmelo Anthony. And if Anthony is dealt, the Nuggets would be wise to blow it up and trade Chauncey Billups/Nene as well. Hold Chandler through the deadline.

<BIG>ORLANDO</BIG>
PG Jameer Nelson
SG Jason Richardson
SF Hedo Turkoglu
PF Ryan Anderson
C Dwight Howard

Brandon Bass came off the bench in his return from an ankle sprain Sunday, but that won't last. In Ryan Anderson's seven starts, the Magic went just 4-3. Additionally, Anderson struggled as a starter, shooting 41.2 percent and playing 25.8 minutes. He was playing 25.0 minutes off the bench in his previous 16 games anyway.

Look for the old splits to take hold again. Anderson will play about 25 minutes while Bass will get about 27.5. Anderson is the one to own as the deadly 3-point shooter -- he will get hot again. Meanwhile, Bass averages just 12.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 0.6 blocks in 26 games as a starter this season. His game does not have much upside.

Two weeks ago, I recommended dumping Gilbert Arenas in this space. Nothing has changed. He looks lost on the court and his confidence is somehow shot. With just 20.5 minutes a night over his last seven games, there is nothing to see here.

<BIG>PHILADELPHIA</BIG>
PG Jrue Holiday
SG Jodie Meeks
SF Andre Iguodala
PF Elton Brand
C Spencer Hawes

Jrue Holiday is worn down physically and mentally, but his talent level is too high for fantasy owners -- or the Sixers -- to bail on. We saw that on Friday night when Holiday came out of nowhere to torch the Spurs for 27 in 37.7 minutes. The All-Star break will do him wonders and 31-33 minutes nightly down the stretch of the season is a good bet.

Andre Iguodala's new role as a point-forward, is another story. No matter what Doug Collins says, it is not a fluke that Iguodala is averaging 8.0 assists since the switch seven games ago while Holiday is at 3.7. The point guard in the Sixers' offense initiates things by passing the ball to the wing and getting it back off a down screen. Then the point guard runs a pick-and-roll up top. Iguodala simply has the ball in hands more now, sending his arrow up and Holiday's down.

Speaking of Iguodala, I highly doubt he gets traded at the deadline. After a 3-13 start, the Sixers have gone 23-15. They finally have a buzz and will make the playoffs if they keep Iguodala. This rotation -- bench roles included -- is locked in the rest of the way.

<BIG>TORONTO</BIG>
PG Jose Calderon
SG DeMar DeRozan
SF Sonny Weems
PF Amir Johnson
C Andrea Bargnani

Leandro Barbosa has come off a hamstring injury and assumed his old role. He will play about 24 minutes off the bench nightly, leading to wild inconsistency but upside in treys and steals. Deep leaguers could do worse, especially with Linas Kleiza (knee) done for the year.

Sonny Weems is locked in as the starting small forward and will play around 30 minutes most nights, but the lack of treys is a real downer. In his last six games, Weems is averaging 10.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 0.0 3-pointers. We can do better.

The power forward spot here is interesting. Amir Johnson appeared to finally "get it," averaging 14.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 32.4 minutes over his last 10 games prior to Sunday. His percentages have the potential to be difference-making: 58.5 percent from the field and 80.8 from the line this season. However, sustaining this run is going to be a problem. Always playing through nagging injuries, Johnson is now dealing with ankle and back woes. Ed Davis is coming on and Reggie Evans (foot) is coming back. Johnson should hold the starting gig, but something closer to 26-28 minutes is more reasonable after the All-Star break.

I like Ed Davis' skill set, but he is not going to separate from Johnson/Evans. Still just a 21-year-old rookie, Davis needs to be brought along slowly. Expecting more than 22-24 minutes nightly is reaching.

<BIG>WASHINGTON</BIG>
PG John Wall
SG Nick Young
SF Josh Howard
PF Andray Blatche
C JaVale McGee

Rashard Lewis' knee woes are a major concern. He is 31 years old and playing for a team that is 15-38. Why force it through painful tendinitis? The situation has (coincidentally?) gotten progressively worse since Lewis joined the Wizards, and a shutdown is possible. Limited minutes and days offs on back-to-backs are likely, especially with Lewis admitting that he will need an offseason scope.

Enter Josh Howard. Coach Flip Saunders ditched the idea of a three-guard lineup by bring Kirk Hinrich off the bench Sunday, but Hinrich still played 29.2 minutes. Howard played 25.1. That figures to be a reasonable split as long as Lewis is out -- Howard has had complications in his recovery from ACL surgery and will not push 30 minutes per game at any point this year. Unless Lewis completely shuts it down, Howard won't be worth the headache.

Meanwhile, Hinrich's minutes and production are more stable. Even when Rashard Lewis plays, Hinrich gets plenty of burn as the third guard. Over the last six games, Hinrich is averaging 12.2 points, 3.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.2 treys. He's the one to add despite the bench role.

 

[HacheMan]

Dose Of Delfino
My wife and I celebrated our 23rd Valentine's Day together last night with some pizza and beers at a local pub, where I watched the Hawks beat the Pistons and the Spurs dismantle the Nets. That's the way to do V-day, in my opinion.

[SIZE=+1]Injury Tidbits[/SIZE]

Monta Ellis missed Monday's practice with a sprained right thumb, but is expected to play tonight against the Hornets.

Paul Pierce's foot MRI came back negative, meaning he should play on Wednesday. However, he's also dealing with a hand injury and played one of the worst games of his career on Sunday when he was 0-for-10 with one point against the Heat, despite playing 40 minutes. Let's hope he bounces back.

Andrei Kirilenko is out on Tuesday and is doubtful to play on Wednesday as he deals with a sprained ankle. He is having a nice year, but is far too injured to be relied upon by fantasy owners.

Danilo Gallinari (rest) and Amare Stoudemire (toe) are expected to play for the Knicks tonight when they play the Hawks on Wednesday.

Roddy Beaubois (foot) practiced on Monday and could play for the Mavericks on Wednesday. I'm not sold on him doing much coming back this late in the season, but he's obviously worth keeping an eye on.

Danny Granger is dealing with a sore neck that forced him out of Monday's practice early, but it doesn't sound serious. He should be fired up to put on a show tonight as the Pacers host the Heat.

DeMarcus Cousins' status has not been determined for tonight's game against the Thunder. He was fined a one-game salary and held out of his last game after fighting with Donte Greene, but could be back in the starting lineup after paying his penalty. Samuel Dalembert has been playing well, but will take a hit if Cousins moves back into the starting five tonight.

There is talk of Michael Redd returning to the Bucks after the All-Star break, but unless you're in a very deep league, continue to ignore him.

[SIZE=+1]Fantasy Game Recaps[/SIZE]

Delfino Crushes Clippers

Corey Maggette was out with a back injury and Ersan Ilyasova left after two minutes with an eye injury, which opened up the door for Carlos Delfino and John Salmons to go nuts on the Clippers. Delfino hit a career-high seven 3-pointers and finished with 27 points, nine rebounds and three steals in 41 minutes. It's possible Maggette could have trouble getting his job back from Delfino, but you also have to think Scott Skiles won't possibly treat fantasy owners by giving Delfino 35 minutes a night going forward. We all know Delfino can play, but the way he's used by Skiles is just not right. Salmons had a career-high tying 12 assists to go along with 16 points, while Brandon Jennings added 20 points, five boards and four dimes as he continues to round into form for the Bucks.

For the Clippers, nothing out of the ordinary went down. Blake Griffin double-doubled, DeAndre Jordan's slump continued and Baron Davis played reasonably well. However, Baron's knee is acting up again, and his back isn't exactly made of steel. Hopefully he'll get some rest over the All-Star break and keep rolling in the second half.

Losing Lakers

Kobe Bryant, who skipped shootaround with an illness, played in Monday's loss to the Bobcats, scoring 20 points. While it's hard to believe, the Bobcats own the Lakers recently, winning in eight of their last 10 meetings. And last night's game wasn't even close. The Lakers are reeling and fans are starting to wonder when they're going to 'flip the switch' and start playing like champions. My guess is they'll be fine once the playoffs start, but their regular-season struggles are definitely a concern. Unfortunately, I doubt they're able to pull off another trade like the one a few years ago when they stole Pau Gasol from the Grizzlies.

D.J. Augustin started for Charlotte despite a wrist injury and had seven points and nine assists, while Shaun Livingston played 21 minutes, finishing with nine points, two boards and four assists. Say hello to the timeshare era in Charlotte, at least until DJA works his way out of his funk. I benched both point guards in one league, rolling with Lou Williams instead. And after last night, I feel pretty good about it.

Gerald Henderson scored 18 points, Nazr Mohammed had 16, and Boris Diaw, who was supposed to be benched for missing shootaround, started and had 16 points, three 3-pointers and a steal in 23 minutes. For future reference, Paul Silas is not to be trusted in fantasy circles, as he said DJA was out and that Diaw wouldn't start at Monday's shootaround. Both players ended up starting. Diaw's minutes are still shaky and he's no longer a must-start player, while Henderson, Mohammed and Kwame Brown are all very shaky fantasy prospects. Kwame had eight points and eight boards in another start, but you might want to watch this if you're thinking about picking him up. Gerald Wallace went off (again) and Stephen Jackson struggled, as the Bobcats blew out the Lakers.

Spurs Rip Nets

DeJuan Blair had his seventh double-double in nine games last night, Tim Duncan double-doubled, and Manu Ginobili returned to the starting lineup with 22 points as the Spurs destroyed the Nets. And in what might have been the fantasy highlight of the evening, Brook Lopez managed his third double-double of the season, racking up a massive 10 points and 11 rebounds in the loss. As someone on Twitter pointed out, it would be nice, just one time, to get a 20-10 game out of Bropez. Instead, owners got a feeble double-double from the highly disappointing fantasy center. The Nets were awful, as Lopez tied Travis Outlaw as the team's leading scorers last night.

Hawks Roll Pistons

Jamal Crawford's slump continued on Monday when he hit just 1-of-2 shots for two points as the Hawks rolled over the Pistons in Atlanta. He played 30 minutes, but could be irritated with his unresolved contract situation, or not feeling well. Get him benched if you own him. Marvin Williams flirted with having fantasy value with 15 points, Mike Bibby had a nice line and Josh Smith went off with 27 points, 14 rebounds and three steals. Joe Johnson appeared to tweak an ankle, but played through it to finish with 14 points.

The Pistons got 14 points out of Tracy McGrady, who is probably looking forward to the All-Star break more than anyone, while Rodney Stuckey started and scored 14 points. Greg Monroe's slump continued, as he had just four points and four boards, and while it appears he might have hit a rookie wall, I still think he'll bounce back soon.

Blazers Blast Wolves

Wesley Matthews (23 points), Rudy Fernandez (18), LaMarcus Aldridge (21) and Dante Cunningham (18 points, 13 rebounds) all played very well in Monday's easy win over the Wolves. Cunningham is intriguing, but with Marcus Camby due back any day now from his knee injury, Cunningham should probably just be ignored.

For the Wolves, Martell Webster scored17 despite a sore back, Darko Milicic played well in a return from a hip injury, and Luke Ridnour scored 16 points and started the second half over Jonny Flynn. Flynn has not played great in Ridnour's recent absence and it looks like Ridnour will take over the starting job in their next game. Corey Brewer and Wesley Johnson were both useless last night, as Kurt Rambis decided Webster was the best option to replace injured Michael Beasley, who was out with a sprained ankle. Beasley doesn't sound likely to play on Wednesday either, while Darko should be put back in starting lineups after last night's 15 points, five boards and two blocks.

Rockets Roll In Denver

Carmelo Anthony hit just 4-of-14 shots before leaving Monday's game late with a shoulder injury. I don't think the shoulder is anything to worry about, but his bad line in a two-game week is. Hopefully he'll bounce back on Wednesday at Milwaukee, when he is expected to play through the injury.

For the Rockets, Aaron Brooks somehow hit 6-of-13 shots and two 3-pointers for 18 points before fouling out in 21 minutes. Hopefully Brooks will look in the mirror over the break and man-up for the second half. Keep him benched for now. Shane Battier hit all seven of his shots, including three 3-pointers, for 17 points, three boards, five assists, a steal and a block in the win, and it looks like owners who gambled on him this week have already cashed in their lottery ticket. Courtney Lee somehow scored 22 points with five 3-pointers, but should be ignored as long as Kevin Martin is healthy.

Enjoy the six-game slate on Tuesday night.

 

[HacheMan]

Rudy's Waiting Game
Tuesday night only featured six games and news throughout the day was slow going, but a couple big injuries, as well as a fantastic Heat – Pacers game brought things back into focus.

Grizzlies Win, But Lose Rudy Gay

Rudy Gay's injury was the biggest disaster of the night, suffering what's being termed a left shoulder subluxation, which is reportedly some sort of mild separation. This could lead to surgery, Gay could miss a couple weeks, or it could be a minor injury and he'll be back relatively soon. But he couldn't lift his arm after the game and while X-rays were negative, a lot is hanging on the results of his pending MRI. If you own Gay, cross your fingers, and think about adding Sam Young or Tony Allen, who are going to get a boost if Gay is going to be out for multiple games.

Mike Conley scored all 22 of his points in the second half and added five steals, two blocks and four 3-pointers to his massive line, and it probably wasn't a coincidence that Gay was out when it happened. Zach Randolph double-doubled, while Young and Allen each logged well over 30 minutes on the night. The Sixers were led by Thaddeus Young's 23 points, and he scored 18 in his previous game. But before you think about grabbing him, keep in mind he had 4 & 7 points in his previous two games.

Heat Beat Pacers In Thriller, Lose Miller

Dwyane Wade had possibly the best first quarter of his career last night, starting off 8-of-8, scoring 16 points in five minutes (on Mike Dunleavy), giving his team a 24-point first-half lead, and throwing the best basketball pass I have ever seen to LeBron James. Wade finished with 41 and a full stat line, while LeBron and Chris Bosh were also very solid in the win, but the news is not so good for Mike Miller. Miller took an elbow near his eye socket last night, left the arena in a wheel chair and spent the night in Indy for tests. This is not his first head injury of the season and my guess is Miller's about to get some time off. And if you've got him in one of those ESPN leagues where lineups are locked until a week from Monday, good luck. As for a replacement from the Heat? LeBron, Wade and Bosh combined to score 90 or the team's 110 points last night, which doesn't leave much for the other nine players.

Thunder Blister Tyreke-less Kings

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook were relatively quiet last night as the Thunder crushed the Kings in a blowout. The Thunder only had one game this week, so this is all you get: 17 points on 5-of-18 shooting from Durant, and 10 points and 11 assists in 25 minutes for Westbrook. Jeff Green played a solid game, as did Serge Ibaka, while Daequan Cook caught fire off the bench for 20 points and five threes. Again, this was a blowout and that might be the first time I've written the words Daequan Cook since last year. Ignore him.

DeMarcus Cousins returned for the Kings and had a big night off the bench, finishing with 21 points, 13 boards and two blocks, while Samuel Dalembert was largely ignored by coach Paul Westphal. Tyreke Evans was a surprise DNP after his plantar fasciitis acted up and it doesn't sound like he'll play tonight, either. The Kings ran all kinds of guards out there last night in Evans' place, but only Pooh Jeter and Donte Greene did anything. If you are looking for a one-time guy to grab and plug into your lineup tonight in place of Evans, Jeter would be my pick.

Bulls Bounce Bobcats

The Bulls beat Charlotte last night in a ho-hum game, as Derrick Rose double-doubled and Luol Deng led the way with 24 points. Kyle Korver was a perfect 5-of-5 from the floor and 2-of-2 from the line with three 3-pointers made and 15 points.

For the Bobcats, D.J. Augustin started, but Shaun Livingston played more minutes and had the better game. The timeshare is on in Charlotte, making both players tough starts in fantasy. Augustin's left wrist was heavily wrapped last night and he will use the All-Star break to try to get healthy. Kwame Brown is fading fast and had just two points and four boards last night, while Gerald Wallace crashed to earth with six points on 3-of-9 shooting. He'll bounce back in his next one. Gerald Henderson hit 6-of-9 shots and 10 free throws on his way to 22 points, five boards and two assists, and has become worth keeping a close eye on. He scored 18 in his previous game, but is still a bit too inconsistent for my blood.

Suns Nip Jazz

Forget Deron Williams vs. Steve Nash, this game was all about Channing Frye vs. Al Jefferson. Frye caught fire to finish with 12-of-16 shooting, six 3-pointers, a career-high 31 points, 11 boards and a steal in the one-point win. When he's rolling, he's a fantasy game changer. Jefferson hit 14-of-23 shots for a season-high 32 points, adding 10 rebounds and two blocks, while C.J. Miles showed up with 19 points. The clash of the point guards was won by Steve Nash and his 20 points, 14 assists and two steals, while Williams hit just 2-of-11 shots for 11 points, six boards, 11 assists, two steals and six TOs.

Vince Carter was awful again, hitting 3-of-9 shots for 10 points. Every time owners get ready to drop him, he turns around and has a big game. The Suns also said recently that they expect him to score in bunches and that much of their offense should flow through Carter. I guess that means you hang onto him until after the break, but he's scored 10 or less points in six of his last seven games and hasn't looked right since being traded to the Suns. In other words, I don't think anyone would be mad at you for dropping him, but keep in mind he was slumping badly last year before catching fire in February.

Warriors Sting Hornets

It's surprisingly easy to figure out who won the Chris Paul vs. Stephen Curry battle last night. Curry was in early foul trouble and played just 24 minutes, but still finished with 14 points, eight assists and three 3-pointers on 5-of-5 shooting, while Paul hit just 4-of-12 shots for 11 points and 10 assists. And given the fact the Warriors walked away with this one pretty easily in the end, Curry wins. David West hurt his leg but played through it for the Hornets, who had six players score between 11 and 15 points. Yuck. Monta Ellis, David Lee and Dorell Wright all played well for GSW, while Andris Biedrins stunk it up for 17 minutes. Keep an eye on Ekpe Udoh going forward, as he played 19 minutes and had two points, seven rebounds and two blocks backing up Biedrins.

Injury Roundup

Paul Pierce is expected to play tonight despite a foot injury that helped produce the worst game of his entire career on Sunday. As of now he sounds like a go and I fully expect him to bounce back, but watch for an update in the afternoon.

Amare Stoudemire's toe is feeling a little better and all indications are that he will play against the Hawks tonight. He's been talking trash about Al Horford, saying "He don't want to see me," and still isn't very happy with how things went down when the two teams got into a scrum in late January. Get Stoudemire in your lineup for now, but watch for news throughout the day.

Carmelo Anthony is dealing with a sore shoulder, but in no way does it sound serious like Gay's. He could have returned to Monday's game had it been close so it sounds like he's a go for tonight. In other Melo news the Knicks and Nuggets are expected to intensify talks for Melo over the All-Star break, although a deal is not yet "close." Any volunteers to wake me when it's over?

Michael Beasley has all but been ruled out for tonight's game with his sprained ankle, but should be back just after the break. Keep him benched until next week.

Emeka Okafor is also done until the All-Star break, and while the plan is to bring him back as soon as it's over, it's not set in stone. He's got a strained oblique and while I think there's a good chance he'll be ready sooner than later, there's still a chance he could miss time after the break.

Rashard Lewis won't play tonight in Orlando against his former team, but is hoping to come back after the break from his knee tendinitis. Bench him until further notice.

Nick Young is also dealing with a sore knee and missed Tuesday's practice, but sounds like a go for tonight. He's not a lock to play, but after scoring 31 on Sunday, should be in all lineups for now.

Marcus Camby has already been ruled out for Wednesday with his knee injury, while Brandon Roy is a game-time decision. I'm not sure why the Blazers would run Roy out there tonight instead of giving him another week of rest, but they're talking about doing it. If I owned Roy, he would be on my bench if I had any other options tonight. In other Roy news, a doctor came out on Tuesday and said he probably has only one or two years left in the league, and that he should no longer practice or start games, which is pretty sad news.

Chris Kaman is a game-time decision for tonight, and while I don't expect him to look all that great, he is going to hurt DeAndre Jordan when he returns. This has the feel of an audition in an effort to trade him, but you never know. I'm not rushing out to pick Kaman up, but you can if you need a center.

Ersan Ilyasova has a black eye and is listed as day-to-day, which tells us nothing about whether or not he's going to play tonight against the Nuggets. Corey Maggette says his back is feeling better and while nothing is ever certain in Milwaukee, I'm guessing both players are game-time decisions. If Maggette's out again, Carlos Delfino should have another big night.

Michael Redd is due to rejoin the Bucks just after the break as he attempts to come back from his second major knee surgery in two years. But don't pick him up, as there is still no target date for him to actually appear in a game.

Courtney Lee is out for the Rockets with pneumonia, which should help Shane Battier and Aaron Brooks.

Troy Murphy is still sitting at home for the Nets, who are in "all hands on deck" mode in an effort to trade him. It's going to happen, but Murphy's still not a must-own guy until we find out where he's going to land. If you've got room on the end of your bench, add him. The Nets say this is the only trade they plan on making.

Daniel Gibson is day-to-day again with a quad injury and just can't seem to stay healthy this season. Bench him until further notice.

Jose Juan Barea left Tuesday's practice with the flu and after originally being ruled out, he is now expected to be play tonight. And that hurts the outlook for Roddy Beaubois, who is expected to make his season debut tonight. Roddy B is not a must-own player right now and even Rick Carlisle is saying people need to set realistic expectations for him, but if you have someone you've been wanting to cut, taking a flier on Beaubois is not a bad idea.

 

[HacheMan]

Dose: Bad Day for Rudy Gay
First things first. If you noticed the picture slot blank up here, I assure you, we did that simply to keep our female fans from clogging the servers with marriage proposals. With that little bit of business out of the way, let's dive right into a busy night for NBA news.

For real-time news and analysis, you can follow me on Twitter right here.

[SIZE=+1]Wednesday Night Rundown[/SIZE]

Bad Day for Rudy Gay

Rudy Gay's owners got the bad news they thought might be coming when it was announced he would miss at least a month with a subluxation of his left shoulder. That makes Tony Allen and Sam Young must-adds in my opinion, in that order, as both had been playing well enough to be owned prior to the injury, anyway. The Grizzlies blog, Three Shades of Blue, threw out a curveball by saying that they believe O.J. Mayo "will" start, but I'm not buying it unless it's a short-term attempt to audition him for a trade. Could it happen? I suppose, but the Grizzlies are winning without him and it's no secret that they're looking to part ways.

The storyline that may get overlooked for the next 12 hours, however, is the likelihood that Zach Randolph gets traded as a result of this injury. His $17 million expiring contract is a valuable trade chip, and now that Gay is out for a significant stretch, the Grizz may decide that their playoff hopes died, too. If you own Randolph, it really is the time to hedge your bets and move him before reports start trickling in that he's being aggressively shopped. The most likely bet is that he lands with a contender, and on a contender his touches are highly likely to take a hit. If I had to guess, Orlando is on the phone with them as we speak.

Lowry flirts with perfection

Kyle Lowry had a game for the ages on Wednesday, hitting 15-of-18 FGs, and was perfect all the way until the fourth quarter when he missed three treys. In the process he hit six 3-point buckets and had four rebounds, seven assists, and a steal. If you dropped him in advance of Aaron Brooks' return about a month ago you're not alone. As for Brooks, he was awful last night, hitting just 4-of-12 shots from the field for nine points and not much else in 18 minutes. As for the trade that's supposed to set him free? Don't bank on it. It could still happen but the talk out of Houston is to the contrary, and while Brooks is a stash-worthy player, I'm not married to the idea.

As for the Rockets, they are poised to be right in the middle of this year's trade deadline madness, and high on their list of to-dos is signing a big man. Chuck Hayes, who has been providing solid value since taking over the center position, is also high on my list of players to sell-high in advance of the deadline. He played just 19 minutes last night after an early bit of foul trouble, but was clearly passed over during the second half, and yet he still finished with a versatile four points, seven boards, four assists, and a steal. Amidst all of the trade deadline confusion, opposing owners may not realize the severity of his situation.

NBA trade deadline update

I may end up updating the trade deadline review before Sunday, given the reality that the league may decide that waiting on Chris Broussard to convince Donnie Walsh to give the farm up for Melo – just isn't worth waiting for. Potential deals are starting to gain steam, including one that would send Devin Harris, Anthony Morrow, and Travis Outlaw to Portland for Andre Miller, Rudy Fernandez, and Joel Przybilla, a relatively new deal that would send Ramon Sessions to Atlanta, and a host of other deals I could spend all day on here. Note that neither deal is imminent at this time, and again, be on the lookout for this weekend's trade deadline review and check out Rotoworld's NBA Player News page.

As for the Melo trade, I've held steady on New York as the destination even before the trade to New Jersey was 'imminent,' and the bottom line is that unless Denver does something to harm their own franchise – Melo will be a Knick. As for the reports since last Sunday's trade deadline piece, the only new 'news' is that Denver is acting a bit more erratic than anybody expected, Melo told Chris Broussard to tell everybody he was frustrated the Knicks haven't traded for him yet, and the only thing that will derail this trade are egos at this point. As for the leverage and probabilities, they all remain the same and pointed toward New York. I'll save the mechanics for the piece this weekend, but to sum up my position until further notice, owners of all Knicks not named Amare are (still) on notice.

The Iggy Shuffle

Andre Iguodala hit just 3-of-15 shots from the field last night, but nabbed his fifth career triple-double with 13 points, 12 boards, and 10 assists. He's still dealing with a sore wrist and a sore Achilles' tendon, but his recent play has erased the panic from a month ago. And keeping with the good vibes, Jrue Holiday officially busted out of his slump with 20 points, four rebounds, eight assists, a steal, and two threes to go with an 8-of-11 shooting mark. While it's unclear if he can bring it on an every-week basis, Doug Collins seems to have pushed all the right buttons so far and by that fact alone I'm optimistic about Jrue for the rest of the year.

Smelly Foot

Tyreke Evans missed his second game in a row with the same plantar fasciitis issue that caused owners to seek fantasy therapy earlier in the year. He's going to see the same specialist that reviewed it for his agent, and like his earlier bout with it, a few different things smell here. First, he's talking about playing in the rookie-sophomore game, which should be the furthest thing from his mind if it's serious. Second, he just got called out by DeMarcus Cousins for being a ball-hog, who incidentally was backed by team leader Francisco Garcia. Games off to get one's head right are no new phenomena, and with Evans' feet needing a mixture of rest and overall conditioning on his part, this two-day break may have been just what doctor Westphal ordered. Why the mental jumping jacks? Because his foot has caused owners to panic and sell, or pilfer and buy, and the guy's value has been right where it was predicted on draft day since he got healthy. Understanding whether this is a real issue, whether he's going to mail the season in, or if he simply is embarrassed that Cousins said what everybody was thinking – are all good things to know if you're going to buy low or sell high. My take on it right now? He's a chance worth taking, though I may buy a vowel with the next report.

Don't call me Roddy

Roddy Buckets, or Rodrigue Beaubois as he wants to be called now, returned to action in an impressive 13-point, six-assist effort that included three steals and a three in 21 minutes. Most impressively, he appears to be in great shape, at one point out-leaping Tyson Chandler for a rebound and starting his own fastbreak. There are a number of problems with his fantasy situation, including the fact that Rick Carlisle played nine guys 20+ minutes last night, as well as the log-jam at shooting guard. One of those objections may end up being removed by Carlisle, however, as it was reported he may actually see some time at PG, with Jason Kidd moving over to SG. That seems like a bit of semantics to me, but if you have dead weight on your roster and can afford to stash someone, he's worth a look. But if you're looking for instant, consistent production, he's probably not your guy.

Click here for the rest of the rundown, Four Quarters of Fury, and Thursday Night Lights….
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Cleveland rocks (the Lakers)

'Rocks' might not be the appropriate term, but when you become just the fourth team in 40 years to beat a team that previously emasculated you to the tune of 55 points earlier in the year – have a party. I've been fairly critical of Byron Scott's folded-arms approach to you-know-who's return to Cleveland, but their efforts against the Clippers and Lakers show they have a spine.

And aside from beating the Lakers, who thought the All-Star break started a day early, the Cavs are a hotbed of fantasy activity right now. Mo Williams returned with both a bang and a fizzle, posting big numbers while limping around the court the past week. Last night he lasted just three minutes after aggravating an ankle injury he suffered on Friday, and Ramon Sessions went nuts with a season-high 32 points on 9-of-16 shooting with eight assists and three steals. Add to the mix a rumor that the PG-needy Hawks are interested in trading for him, the fact that Mo has been on the trading block for a month, and you have a dicey situation. For Williams' owners the call is simple, you hold for the lack of trade value and possibility of upside. For Sessions' owners you hold, as well, but there is also an opportunity to buy-low here. Folks can't draw a straight line between him and fantasy value, but considering that Cleveland is comfortable with him starting, Mo could be traded/injured, and Atlanta as a destination could be favorable – it's the type of manageable risk that could pay off.

Antawn Jamison is also on the trade block, and added a calf injury to his sore knee on the last play of last night's game. His chances of being traded are lessened by his enormous contract, but at least one team in New Orleans has been linked to him. Whether he stays or goes, he will either play in a more crowded field or face the decision of gutting out injuries while the Cavs play for ping-pong balls. Your choice.

Daniel Gibson (quad) returned but had just three points and three assists in 22 minutes. When healthy, he has a very good chance of providing low-end fantasy value, but the fact this injury has lingered has me a tad worried. If reports emerge that he says he is at 100 percent, he'll be worth a pickup if he has been dropped.

That's turrible

And true to form, Baron Davis said before last night's game that his knee feels "terrible." He played through it and hit just 2-of-10 shots for six points, four rebounds, and six assists in 32 minutes, as the answer to the sell-high question with him may have been answered. Fortunately for him, the All-Star break couldn't have come at a better time, though Vinny Del Negro said that he expects Eric Gordon to play next week. Whatever the case may be, if you can still point out his massive value over the last three weeks to another owner, by all means do it.

In other Clippers news, Chris Kaman (ankle) returned to action and looked great in the 10 minutes he played, scoring four points with six rebounds and three blocks. He has been a hot name on the trading block, and wherever he plays you have to think he can carve out low-end fantasy value. 7-footers with his skill-set are hard to bench. As for DeAndre Jordan, his recent play has lightened the bandwagon, but from a strictly fantasy perspective it would be wise to hold him through the trading deadline. It's probable that he will be dropped like a rock if Kaman sticks around, but likewise be worth owning should Kaman be sent packing.

Kevin Love, All-Star, NBA record-holder

For as much as I believe LaMarcus Aldridge is a better basketball player at this stage in the two players' careers, it would have been a travesty had Kevin Love broken George Mikan's NBA record for double-doubles before the All-Star break (50, 1950) – without actually being in the big game. His 51st double-double came with a bit of heartburn when he lost feeling in his right arm after it got hit, but he stayed in the game and finished with 18 points and 18 boards for his 51st double-double of the year, and 42nd in a row.


[SIZE=+1]Four Quarters of Fury[/SIZE]

First Quarter: Thaddeus Young has now scored 16 or more points in 5-of-7 games. He doesn't have my trust but he's worth a look. Spencer Hawes got his fifth 2x2 of the year, scoring 17 points with 10 boards. He left with an ankle injury but returned and should be okay. DeMarcus Cousins returned to the starting lineup, and wasted no time with 16 points, 12 rebounds, two steals, and three blocks. Get him back in there. Samuel Dalembert started next to him and had a nice night with 10 points, nine boards, two steals, but didn't have a block. That's the part of his game I worry least about, and while Paul Westphal is prone to change, he's certainly worth an add if you need a big man. Jermaine Taylor was a poor man's Tyreke Evans while filling in for the aforementioned with a career-high 17 points, three boards, five assists, four steals, and a block. He'll only be worth a look if Evans misses more time.

Second Quarter: Dirk Nowitzki scored just 13 points with three rebounds and four assists in 24 minutes, and the buy low window has opened up again. Make it happen. Speaking of buy-low, Stephen Curry combined bad shooting with foul trouble and ended up with four points, four assists, and five fouls in 22 minutes. For a guy that hasn't left the top-20 all season long, there is a ton of panic out there. Meanwhile, Monta Ellis put on a clinic with 35 points, four boards, and seven assists. The team the Warriors beat last night, the Jazz, are reeling right now. Somewhere Jerry Sloan just cracked a beer. Deron Williams' wrist is still a concern, as he struggled through pain for another night and ended up with 18 points on 5-of-13 shooting with seven rebounds, 11 assists, three steals, and a block. He has been a monster throughout, but I don't like my Round 1 assets gutting out wrist injuries on sinking ships.

Third Quarter: Ty Lawson was held scoreless in 12 minutes last night and there has been trade talk that would result in him sharing the car keys with an older brother. My take? There's only a week or so left to go – stay the course. Kenyon Martin had a nice stroll down memory lane with 11 points, nine boards, seven assists, and five blocks. I'll wash your dog if he does it again (you have to mail me the dog). Arron Afflalo disappeared and has been running hot-or-cold lately, scoring three points last night. He is a boom-or-bust guy depending on the you-know-what. Corey Maggette returned to ruin Carlos Delfino's good time, as Maggette scored 16 points with five boards, two assists, and a three, and Delfino scored 12 points with not much else. I think you know my thoughts by now, but if not, I'd rather stash Anthony Randolph than deal with that mess. And I want to stash Anthony Randolph like I want to wash your dog. John Salmons was the man of the hour last night for the Bucks, scoring a season-high 33 points. He has had a huge week and even gone without a turnover to boot – sell, sell, sell. Next thing you know Michael Redd will come out of hibernation and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute will play 40 minutes a night. And leave it to Andrew Bogut to sum up the Bucks' season with 20 rebounds and five blocks with just three points on 1-of-7 shooting.

Fourth Quarter: Trevor Ariza may have tweaked his ankle last night, but it didn't sound serious and the break is here in time. Willie Green scored 24 points on 11-of-19 shooting with five boards. The Hornets are looking for SGs and Green hasn't proven consistent just yet, but he's worth a look, especially in 14-team formats. Chris Paul got blanketed last night by Nicolas Batum, scoring just eight points on 2-of-6 shooting with five assists. Speaking of Batum, he had 14 points with five rebounds, two assists, two steals, a block, and two threes. I consider him a must-own player given Portland's commitment to him and his ability to cover opposing 'ones' through 'fours.' He shouldn't leave the court. Andre Miller had 18 points, four rebounds, and seven assists, and as detailed in the trade deadline guide he's one to sell-high before he gets sent to a less certain future.

 

[HacheMan]

Targeting under-the-radar players

Eleven players teams could snatch up at the trade deadline (PER Diem: Feb. 17, 2011)


The trade deadline is a week away, and of course we're all focused on the headliners -- most notably Carmelo Anthony, but also the secondary spoils of a Denver Nuggets demo (Chauncey Billups, J.R. Smith) and whatever veterans the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers might be willing to jettison.


But beneath that storm, there's another trade game in play. This week isn't just about the stars; for smart organizations, it's also body-snatching season. This is about finding players who are rotting on other teams' benches and seeing whether they can fill larger roles on your club. This tends to work best with expiring contracts -- it amounts to a free look at the player before a free-agent decision, and the other party in the trade is usually happy to play along -- but sometimes it works with other players, too.

Not that one must wait 'til February to try this; the Houston Rockets already rolled the dice on the New Jersey Nets' Terrence Williams after seeing the Nets weren't making much use of him. A more traditional example, however, might be what the Minnesota Timberwolves did a year ago with Darko Milicic. Although they wildly overreacted to his mild success by outbidding themselves in the summer, they were able to convert Brian Cardinal's expiring contract into a useful player. It's a good example of how even teams that are out of the money can use the trade deadline to their advantage.


Of course, to play this game, one first must identify which players are worth the gamble. To my eyes, 11 players merit such a dice roll; I'm not saying to start dropping established starters for these guys, but if the chance comes to pilfer any of them cheaply to fill a need position, then it's time to pounce.


Let's take a look:



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<CENTER>Anthony</CENTER>
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Anthony Randolph, Knicks
You can see why the Wolves are intrigued, and it seems he'd be destined to be their Darko of 2011, minus the bidding against themselves in the offseason (since he won't be a free agent this summer). Randolph is one of the rare players who averages better than a block or steal every 10 minutes; two-thirds of that total is blocks, which is why I compare him to Marcus Camby so often.


Compared with Camby, he's also a better ball handler, although he's a worse shooter and a poor decision-maker at the offensive end. Right now, that's beside the point -- on defensive value alone, he should be in somebody's plans. That's why the Knicks are likely to get a first-rounder for him even though he's so far down their bench that he's hidden by Eddy Curry's shadow.
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Brandan Wright, Warriors
When even the Warriors think he doesn't play defense and isn't tough enough, I suppose we should take note of that. Still, I think they might be focusing on Wright's faults to the exclusion of his strengths. We're talking about a 54.3 percent career shooter with a career PER near 18. Despite his thin frame, he's a good rebounder, and he averages better than a block every 20 minutes, so it's not as if he's Andrea Bargnani.


He's also only 23 … yet he doesn't play. He's a restricted free agent after the season, too, so at this point I have to think the Warriors would give him up for a bag of peanuts. There are lots of teams he can help -- in particular, I'm surprised the New Orleans Hornets haven't pushed harder for this guy. He'd be perfect finishing all the trouble Chris Paul starts, and they badly need some production from their frontcourt reserves.


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Ramon Sessions, Cavaliers
A variant on the theme because he gets plenty of minutes for Cleveland, plus there are now 10 million Lakers fans who think he's better than Steve Nash. Nonetheless, I'm not sure Sessions is in Cleveland's long-term plans, and I know Byron Scott is down on his permissive defense -- in fact, that's why he was barely playing earlier this season. Although Sessions' D is going to be an issue wherever he goes, his superlative pick-and-roll skills make him an outstanding pickup for the right team.


In addition to the defensive shortcomings, Sessions isn't a good long-range shooter and can't be asked to spot up on the weak side -- he has to have the ball. So fitting on the right team will be really important. Nonetheless, he'd be ideal coming off the bench and running the second unit offense, where his defensive shortcomings wouldn't be as problematic and he wouldn't be taking the ball out of the hands of better offensive players.


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Kyrylo Fesenko, Jazz
I'm not sure whether he's in Utah's long-term plans, given the immaturity issues he has shown and his glaring lack of offensive skill, but Fesenko can help the right team for one single reason: The dude is huge. And because of that, he has had a tremendous impact on games defensively.


According to basketballvalue.com, Utah gives up 97.53 points per 100 possessions when he's on the floor … and 109.78 when he isn't. That 12.26 point differential is by far the greatest on the team and leads one to wonder why he hasn't been paired more with either Al Jefferson or Paul Millsap -- perhaps even as a starter. He's an unrestricted free agent after the season, so if the Jazz aren't interested in using him, perhaps somebody else can make it work.


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Derrick Brown, Bobcats
I have no idea why Paul Silas has kept Brown on the pine while rolling out mediocrities such as Dominic McGuire and Matt Carroll to take his minutes. I do know this: He has NBA athleticism, can shoot well enough to get by and, as a second-year pro, can still improve. That combination of attributes is the type you like to take a chance on, and although Brown's upside isn't huge (he's 24 and has had PERs in the 12s his first two seasons), I'm fairly sure he can be a rotation player if he gets half a chance.


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Luke Babbitt, Trail Blazers
Look, I have no idea whether Babbitt can play. Frankly, the early returns aren't encouraging. But his college numbers were really good and, as the Blazers look to retool, it's possible he can be had cheaply. This is very rare for first-round picks in their rookie season, but Babbitt wasn't selected by the current regime, so there's going to be less resistance to moving him if the right deal comes along.


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Courtney Lee, Rockets
Lee's a known quantity, unlike a lot of the other players on this list, but he's also somebody who could move into a greater role than his current one. A backup in Houston, he already has started for an NBA Finals team and is drawing salivating glances from the Chicago Bulls in particular because he does the two things needed from every role player: He plays defense, and he makes corner 3s.


The Rockets won't be giving him away, but if they do a blockbuster, he might be one of the pieces, and smart scavengers might look to get involved as a third team and pry him loose.


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Marreese Speights, 76ers
He's in his third season and the Sixers still don't play him much, but he's another player teams in need of frontcourt help should be pursuing. Like Wright, Speights isn't much of a defender, although he at least injects humor with his spirited but slapstick-quality flop attempts.


Speights' gift is the midrange J -- he can flat-out fill it up from midrange, helping him average just under a point ever two minutes for his NBA career. There just aren't a ton of players who can make that claim, especially ones who are 23 and spend most of the game near the end of the bench.


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Ian Mahinmi and Dominique Jones, Mavericks
The Mavs are firmly in win-now mode, which is why if push comes to shove they'd likely part with two young players who aren't getting much burn. Jones is hurt at the moment, so he'd be a stash-for-next-season acquisition. He's undersized and his offense is a question mark, but he's an athletic 2 who can rebound; if he makes outside shots, he'll be another Quentin Richardson.


As for Mahinmi, it seems he's been around forever but he's only 24. And, in his brief NBA career, he has averaged nearly a point every two minutes while shooting 60.8 percent. It's only a 434-minute sample, and his D-League numbers aren't as strong, but this is a guy fairly begging for a real opportunity someplace. Lottery teams should be beating down Dallas' door trying to get him into their system and see what he can do with extended minutes.


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Jeff Teague, Hawks
The classic young point guard trying to do too much, Teague may yet turn into a real basketball player. The Hawks' second-year pro doesn't have trouble creating shots -- it's making them, and making good decisions on whether to take them or distribute the ball, that have been his problem.


However, a mammoth turnover rate has been his biggest problem, and sometimes players of that ilk improve rapidly once they start figuring things out -- high-turnover young players in general have brighter futures than the low-turnover ones with similar overall productivity. Teague is only 22, so perhaps the lightbulb will come on … but with the Hawks phasing him out of the rotation as they try to get in playoff shape, it might be time for that theory to be tested in a less demanding environment.

 

[HacheMan]

Wired: Roddy B & Kaman
It's hard to believe, but we're already near the end of the season, entering week 18, which means we're only about three weeks away from the start of the fantasy playoffs in most leagues. And since players have only played one or two games since the last Waiver Wired ran, we'll kick things off with a look at playoffs schedules for you in weekly leagues.

Playoff Schedules

I consider four weeks – 21 (starts March 14), 22, 23 & 24 (starts April 5) – as playoff weeks. Your league may or may not use those weeks, but if you use playoffs, chances are at least three of those four weeks are used. At four games per week, sixteen games is the max, while the lowest number of playoff games is – gulp – 12 games. Also, take note of the Rockets, who have a 2-game week in the playoffs.

16 Games – Celtics, Nets, Suns, Kings, Wizards

This is as good as it gets, making guys like Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, Steve Nash, John Wall, possibly Tyreke Evans and others nice owns in fantasy leagues.

15 Games – Bulls, Cavaliers, Pacers, Bucks, Knicks, Thunder

Obviously, these teams have great playoff schedules, although are just shy of perfection.

14 Games – Hawks, Bobcats, Mavericks, Nuggets, Warriors, Clippers, Heat, Sixers, Blazers, Spurs, Raptors

This is the "average" playoff schedule.

13 Games – Pistons, *Rockets, Lakers, Grizzlies, Magic, Jazz

The Rockets have a 2-gamer, going 4-2-4-3 in the playoffs, while this is not the ideal schedule for the owners of Kobe Bryant, Zach Randolph, Dwight Howard and Deron Williams.

12 Games – Timberwolves, Hornets

This is tough news for the likes of Kevin Love, Chris Paul, Michael Beasley, David West, and others. The Hornets had one of the worst schedules in the league this year, with only 10 4-game weeks, a decent first-half schedule, and then a mess in the second half and playoffs. If you own three or four of these guys in a playoff league, you might want to look at trying to pull off some trades.

Waiver Wired

The Big 4

Sam Young, Tony Allen, Ramon Sessions and Roddy Beaubois have been the guys I've received the most questions about over the last 10 days. And as I wrote in a previous Dose, I've decided on a recommended order on them if you want to pick them up.

1. Roddy Beaubois – He's starting at shooting guard for the Mavericks right now and will continue to do so until further notice. He's played well in his two games this season, but we've still only seen the tip of the iceberg on what he might do the rest of the way. There are no easy answers to these questions, but if all four were available in my league, Roddy B would be my first choice.

2. Sam Young – Young was basically already worth owning before Rudy Gay's potentially season-ending shoulder injury occurred, and is even more appealing now that Gay could be done for the year. Young has been a nice source of points, rebounds and steals, doesn't turn the ball over, and occasionally racks up a block or two in a game.

3. Tony Allen – I had Allen at No. 4 on this list last week, but with news that Mo Williams was actually bothered by an ankle injury when Ramon Sessions led the Cavs to a win over the Lakers last week, I'm bumping Allen in front of him. Allen really doesn't have any competition for his job, and like Young, should be starting for the Grizzlies for the next four weeks, if not for the rest of the year. He's a steals and blocks specialist, can hit threes and score. Yes, O.J. Mayo may push him a little, but it will be off the bench.

4. Ramon Sessions – He could still end up unseating Mo Williams, who, to put it mildly, has had a weird vibe since the moment LeBron made his Decision. And then there's the trade deadline looming with the Hawks, Blazers and Knicks all possible destinations for Sessions. If he goes to the Hawks, he could easily start over Mike Bibby, but regardless of what happens, it still looks like Sessions is worth hanging onto in all leagues.

The Rest

Guards

Shaun Livingston – Bobcats

I'm sure you've heard about his big line on Saturday night by now, when he had a season-high 22 points while D.J. Augustin sat on the bench, kept his slump warm and watched the guy with one knee go nuts. Now Augustin and Livingston appear to be in a full timeshare, making both of them tough fantasy starts. But Livingston has been getting enough run to be worth a look in fantasy leagues. Like I said though, neither is a must-start as long as they are splitting minutes.

Will Bynum – Pistons

If Tracy McGrady goes down, Bynum is the guy you'll want to grab. He had six points in his last one, but scored 17 and 21 in his previous two. Just keep an eye on him and pounce if T-Mac drops.

Jermaine Taylor – Kings

With Tyreke Evans talking about shutting it down with plantar fasciitis, Taylor is worth a look after he posted a career-high 17 points to go along with three rebounds, five assists, four steals, a block and three 3-pointers in a loss to the Mavericks on Wednesday. Pooh Jeter is also worth a look, while Donte Greene could also be relevant down the stretch. None of these guys are must-own players, but all are worth keeping an eye on.

Ty Lawson – Nuggets

It now sounds like the Nuggets will try to acquire another point guard if/when they move Carmelo Anthony, in the form of Devin Harris or Raymond Felton. That is going to hurt Lawson and probably means he's no longer a must-own player. But there is still a sense that the Nuggets want to groom him as their point guard of the future, so if you want to hang onto him, it makes sense.

Forwards

Carlos Delfino – Bucks

Corey Maggette is back from his sore back, but Delfino could stick in the starting five. I don't know how many times I can say it, but I really don't trust anyone on the Bucks. Having said that, both Delfino and Maggette are worth owning, and both of them have been hitting threes.

Peja Stojakovic – Mavericks

He's starting at small forward and had 22 points and four threes on Saturday. He wasn't as great in his next two and will take a hit with Beaubois getting run, but is still worth a look if you need threes for as long as he's starting for Dallas.

Troy Murphy – Nets (for now)

Murphy is going to be traded or bought out, so we have no clue where he'll end up. But if he happens to find the right situation, he'll be worth owning. I still haven't picked him up anywhere, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't if you have room to hold him.

Omri Casspi – Kings

He's starting at small forward and has been doing a nice job of scoring and rebounding, although he was quiet just before the break. If Tyreke Evans is going to miss time with his plantar fasciitis, Casspi may be asked to score more. He's not a must-own player, but if you need boards and threes, he could be your man.

Anthony Randolph - Knicks (for now)

Rumors are that Randolph is going to Minnesota, which could be the ideal situation for him. Of course, he'd still have to fight with Kevin Love and Michael Beasley for minutes, but I am guessing David Kahn and Kurt Rambis won't hesitate to play him. Randolph is still not a must-own player, even if the trade goes down, but in a deep league, he could rack up so points, boards, steals and blocks for the Wolves.

Austin Daye – Pistons

Daye has shown some life lately, averaging 10 points, four boards, nearly a steal, a block and two threes per game in February. He'll have plenty of bad nights coming off the bench, but is getting enough run to be given a look in most leagues.

Brandon Bass – Magic

Bass returned on Sunday and had six points and eight boards. He should hurt Ryan Anderson and could be a decent source of double-doubles with some blocks once he's back in the flow. As for Anderson, I'm reluctant to drop him since he was playing so well when Bass was healthy, and he played better just before the break. Both players are worth owning in most leagues, although the Magic's playoff schedule isn't perfect.

Centers

DeJuan Blair – Spurs

Blair has finally arrived and should continue to log serious minutes as the Spurs roll into the playoffs. He's averaging 12.6 points, 10.1 boards, 1.4 steals, 0.8 blocks and is shooting 53 percent in February. At this point, he's as must-own as they come.

Chris Kaman – Clippers

Kaman played pretty well in his two games last week and is worth grabbing if you need a center. He'll split minutes with DeAndre Jordan, and is also a trade candidate. Either way, both players are probably worth owning in most leagues.

Chuck Hayes – Rockets

Hayes has somehow had value for a couple months and is averaging 9.8 points, 8.8 boards, 2.4 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.8 blocks in February. He's also shooting lights out and making some free throws, and is another guy who should be owned in most leagues. If Kaman is traded to the Rockets tough, Hayes will take a hit.

Greg Monroe – Pistons

Monroe is averaging 10.4 points, 7.0 boards and nearly a steal and block per game in February, despite the return of Ben Wallace. He's probably not available in your league, but is worth grabbing if he is sitting out there.

Kendrick Perkins – Celtics

Perk is back and is averaging 8.7 points, 9.3 boards and 1.3 blocks in February. He's the only healthy center the Celtics have right now and should get better as the season rolls to a close.

Samuel Dalembert – Kings

Sammy D continues to be unpredictable as Paul Westphal can't seem to make up his mind on a starting lineup. He started with DeMarcus Cousins in his last game and is averaging 9.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, 0.8 steals and 1.1 blocks in February, making him worth a look if you need a center.

 

[HacheMan]

Trade Deadline Review Part 2
Trade Deadline Review, Part Deux


I almost used the headline, Domino, Mother Clucker!, with Carmelo Anthony being the first domino to fall in this season's trade deadline bonanza, and his complicated game of contractual chicken causing most to want to slam something other than a domino on a table. And I'm going to do something a little different when it comes to the Carmelo Anthony saga.

I'm going to ask you to just blindly trust me. For you, for me, for the sake of the word count – trust me, I have this one. I have had the Knicks with the best offer for as long as I can remember, writing as far back as the November 16, 2010 Daily Dose:

"While signing him as a free agent will be cheaper, the Knicks will want to keep their superstar happy by extending him under the current CBA, and they will offer a package of Danilo Gallinari, Eddy Curry's expiring contract, a first-round pick (likely picked up by the Knicks via trade of Anthony Randolph), and something in the ballpark of Landry Fields and/or Wilson Chandler."

The reason I've had them, and refuted the reports about the Nets, Lakers, and other rental teams is that they did not make contractual or negotiating sense. In the process, I sifted through garbage report after garbage report from writers who long lost their sense of ethics.

For fantasy owners, the situation couldn't have broken better for owners of any Knicks not named Amare. Yes, I know you're probably saying, 'wha what?!' But if you followed the situation closely, all of the cover being used for Team Melo to get him his extension in New York was the same cover you needed to sell assets like Raymond Felton. And should you not be comfortable with the way things are breaking for the other Knicks assets like Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, and Landry Fields, you had the opportunity to make the deal for months – because every time you turned a bogus report was being released to scare Donnie Walsh.

So Melo's trade to New York will be announced, perhaps before I finish this article. In its current form it will send Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, and Raymond Felton to Denver, with Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, and Anthony Carter heading to New York, then Anthony Randolph heading to Minnesota along with Eddy Curry's expiring contract, and Minnesota sending Corey Brewer over to the Nuggets.

The Knicks are not going to budge on their current offer, which frankly, is too much. James Dolan allowed for his ineptitude to eventually become corrupted by Isiah Thomas and together they couldn't walk the hard line, as New York essentially blinked and probably cost themselves a good chunk of their future in the process. Donnie Walsh was minimized after perfectly executing a trade strategy that recognized that Denver had no leverage, while ignoring all the garbage reporting that ignored simple questions like, 'what about the fact that Melo won't sign the extension' or 'what if my 7-year old wouldn't believe this.' Media outlets from both Denver and New Jersey were used by their respective teams, and the fact that they didn't pose the obvious questions on reader's behalf during their reports will stain them. As for the national outlets, I'd like to give props to Ken Berger of CBS Sports, Marc Spears and Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports for keeping it real. There were others that were good, but I relied on them for solid information.

Anyway, enough about that. Melo will be a Knick, no matter what you hear, and here is the fantasy impact as of 8:18 p.m. on Sunday.

The big loser here is Raymond Felton. He will go to Denver, and if he doesn't get moved in a subsequent trade he will play the role of big brother before he hands the car keys over to Ty Lawson. Even if he were to clear starter's minutes in Denver or a new location, it's just not going to be the same as Mike D'Antoni's seven seconds or less. If you can find anybody that still believes there is a chance that the Nets pull this out, make the deal to move Felton before reading the rest of this. As for Lawson's owners, you just need to hold throughout the trading deadline. The news isn't great, but you have less than one week to go before you know if you'll have a solid fantasy starter on your hands.

The next part regarding the incoming wings is tricky. Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler have enjoyed a nice environment in New York, and head to a situation in Denver that currently holds Arron Afflalo, J.R. Smith, Al Harrington, and Kenyon Martin. Joining them will be Corey Brewer from Minnesota, and the next dominos to fall will dictate the fantasy value for all of these guys. Heck, even Denver's current center Nene, will affect this situation.

As it stands, Denver has been aggressively shopping Nene, J.R. Smith, and been begging for somebody to take on Al Harrington. Should all three of them get traded, as possible, then 80 minutes per game would be cleared out from the entire rotation. As for Gallinari and Chandler, who can play anything between SG and PF, they currently are heading to a crowded situation – but all is not lost. For one, the Nuggets will be eager to turn the page and put their new assets out on the floor. They should both get 30+ minutes per game, and the only real issue would exist if the Nuggets can't clear out enough players to avoid a huge log-jam. I do think that, barring a trade they can't refuse, the Nuggets will keep Arron Afflalo and have a hard time removing him from the starting lineup. Having come off the bench in New York, the Nuggets will lean toward using Wilson Chandler off the bench in a swing role with Danilo Gallinari as the starting SF next to Kenyon Martin at PF. That would leave J.R. Smith, Al Harrington, and Chandler backing up the first unit. Where it gets interesting is if Nene leaves without Denver acquiring a center in return, because Chris Andersen is no spring chicken (he's a bird, dammit). The Nuggets could trend toward having a small, uptempo lineup – even more so than they have right now.

What does it all mean? For one, Chandler's owners can simply sit back and hope for the best, as you're not selling him right now with his current value. For Gallo's owners, if the question is how his value will be impacted, the answer is that owners can be cautiously optimistic about it. There will be no go-to guy in Denver (and they want to trade all the trigger happy ones), and Gallo has shown enough this year to be a poor man's No. 1 option. As for Afflalo, Smith, Harrington, Brewer and the rest – all of their value will be determined by the next dominos that fall.

Overall, the move for Gallo and Chandler has to be viewed with skepticism for the chance that guys don't get moved out of the log-jam in Denver and the chance that the friction of the trade throws them off. In terms of real market value, it should be considered a drop as owners won't want to shoulder risk. But in terms of speculation, it is possible that both of them hold their value. In the case of Chandler's somewhat muddy value, I'm referring to the mid-point between his current, muted production and the production he had when he was tearing it up. In the case of Gallinari, I mean his current value, with the chance he becomes the go-to guy on a team with a small, up-tempo lineup.

In New York, the message is simple. It's all good. Chauncey is all good, Melo is all good, and Amare is all good. They might have a hiccup getting acclimated, but they will have as many minutes as they can handle and post big numbers. There's no need to worry about any of them, even if Melo could hurt Amare's numbers a tiny tad. If there's a loser it is Landry Fields, who gets a lot of garbage rebounds that may start landing in Melo's hands.

What may be more interesting for fantasy geeks like us, is determining who the dark-horse winner will be off of New York's bench. Toney Douglas, Shawne Williams, Bill Walker, Shelden Williams, and Ronny Turiaf will do battle with bench-like starter Timofey Mozgov to be that fifth New York guy to provide value. It's also possible that New York swings another deal to bring in a backup PG like Sebastian Telfair, or another big man to provide depth up front, but one of these guys will emerge – I guarantee it. If his shoulder is healed, my bet is that it's Douglas.

And for poor old Anthony Randolph, the man with all the upside that just doesn't get a chance – to quote 3-D Dennis Scott, "he's Anthony Randolph." If I had a dollar for every time I've heard a plugged in NBA source say that he's hopeless I'd have at least $27. First off, he's going to go play behind Kevin Love and Michael Beasley, and if Love can't get minutes because of the dumb things he was doing on the court – then Randolph could easily don a suit most nights instead of a uniform. I might not stash him in an 18-team league.

So after the All-Star game ends, look for the writers to jockey to break the story that Melo is a Knick and for trades to start consummating shortly after. NBA reporter extraordinaire David Aldridge believes that we'll have a busy trade deadline, which if true, will mean that we'll also have one of the more busy weeks for fantasy owners.

My recommendation for owners? Check out my trade deadline piece from last week and review Rotoworld's NBA Player News page to get the most recent updates on your players. Last week's trade deadline information is still valid in 90 percent of the cases.

Update: There are conflicting reports that Timofey Mozgov would need to be included or the Nuggets would trade him to the Nets, and I nearly spit out some of my fourth venti coffee of the day while laughing. The Nuggets can be criticized for their audacity, but they will ultimately be revered by fans for getting more than they ever deserved. Shortly after the Alan Hahn report, Adrian Wojnarowski reported it would not be a deal-breaker and Chris Broussard reported that Denver wasn't making this demand. I find it ironic that this Broussard report comes in retreat, as the idea of Mozgov was clearly floated to press Denver's position, and the resulting push-back by New York and media due to the ridiculous nature of the request required some damage-control from Denver. After all, should New York pull out they may end up with nothing, since Melo won't sign in Jersey. As usual, the collaborated effort between Team Melo and Denver to manipulate leverage always needs a trusty reporter.

I do expect Mozgov to be discussed in the next few days, and Melo said during the game that he would play in Denver's next game on Tuesday, so the good news for owners is that this thing may not pop quite as fast. The issue for Denver is that they have no big men if they trade Nene, so they might actually give a concession to get Mozgov here. If Mozgov lands in Denver, he could have some value in a depleted frontcourt, and also keep them out of the fun-and-gun.

Without further ado, here are the additional developments and insights since last week's trade deadline piece….
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Post Melo-Fatigue Syndrome

Also known as PMFS, which also stands for 'please make it effin stop,' will be followed by more moves that signify the shift from contender to rebuilder. As mentioned last week, Nene is on the top of the list and is highly likely to be traded. He has drawn interest from any team that needs a big man, but it appears that Houston is the most interested, though I'm not going to call it 'likely' yet that he goes there. I put Chuck Hayes' owners on notice last week, and if it's not Nene it is very likely that the Rockets bring in somebody to cut into his value.

J.R. Smith has received interest from both New Orleans and Chicago, with the Hornets being the most likely destination between the two at this time. Chicago is hunting for a SG but really doesn't want to mess with their rotation and chemistry for a guy with all those red flags, so I'm guessing they're passing with better team guys like Anthony Parker on the market. Smith to New Orleans is intriguing, though we've seen what Monty Williams has done to guys like Marcus Thornton. Maybe this is the chance that J.R. realizes he needs to do things right, and maybe playing behind no-nonsense Chris Paul rather than nonsense-creator Carmelo Anthony will push all the right buttons. The Hornets have no real talent at SG with Willie Green and Marco Belinelli filling roles, but they don't have the game-breaking talent that Smith has. I'm probably eight hours or so from stashing Smith in a few competitive leagues.

Prokhorov's Rules

I like Mikhail Prokhorov, and I have no problem with him telling reporters that he was out of the Melo trade only to find his way back in this past week. For one, I don't think he was lying when he said he was out, and I think he was smart to realize that they were past the point of proving themselves as a franchise – and well past the stage of being used. The cons outweighed the pros and he pulled the chord. Getting dragged back in this past week will be called him going back on his word, but in reality, it was genius. He raised the price for rival New York, and positioned the Nets to catch Anthony should Team Melo panic. He also raised the profile of the franchise once again. Great moves all around.

Speaking of moves, the trade that New Jersey has cooking is a 6-player trade sending Devin Harris, Anthony Morrow, and Travis Outlaw to Portland for Andre Miller, Rudy Fernandez, and Joel Przybilla. I'll discuss this later on, but Portland is going to be one of the more active teams at this trade deadline. They may feel they have an advantage because of the pure number of deals they'll have on the table, but this is a deal that stands above the rest so far.

If consummated, it's bad news for Andre Miller, but we've been predicting that for weeks. Wherever Miller goes he is likely to have little control over his situation, and if traded to a contender he'll be in a time-share. If traded to a rebuilding team, he'll probably share time with a younger player. In New Jersey, it's possible that Jordan Farmar is given a more prominent role. Either way, it would be an upset for Miller to come out of this deadline with equal value.

The addition of Travis Outlaw to his old backup role in Portland would be a minor buzz-kill for owners of Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum, and Brandon Roy, but he hasn't shown much in New Jersey and I'm not ready to panic. However, with Anthony Morrow, who has been on Portland's radar since last year's free agency period, and Outlaw coming back and only one guy leaving in Rudy Fernandez – this trade could have a crowding effect. The Blazers view Morrow as a better version of Rudy, and fantasy owners should look at them similarly. The net result is that owners of Matthews and Batum should continue to be patient, and while we're probably looking at a sell-high moment with Roy returning as well – it's not a must-sell moment with Roy and Outlaw being question marks, assuming the deal gets consummated.

As for Devin Harris, he has been abysmal lately, pouting and preserving himself with knowledge that he is likely out of New Jersey. As much as one can buy low on the injury-prone Harris, I think it's an excellent time to buy with it being likely that he lands in Portland. They have long coveted him, as well, and he should be excited to step into starter's minutes on a team in playoff contention. Remember when he landed in New Jersey? I do, and I expect him to return to his normal level of production when he arrives in Portland, too.

Teams to watch

Portland: While we're on the topic of Portlandia, they're looking to move anybody not named Aldridge or Batum. Wesley Matthews is also very unlikely to be moved, but he's not untouchable. Marcus Camby has threatened to retire if he gets traded, but if the Mavs believe that they're going to lose Tyson Chandler in free agency and decide to patch it up with Camby – will he be so stubborn? We'll see, but there's not enough chance he goes for owners to move the needle.

Houston: GM Daryl Morey is a trading machine, preferring the value-swap prepositions to the inflated values presented in free agency. He is seeking a big man, and has been linked to every single one of them. He has been pursuing Nene with fervor, but he has also expressed that he wants a young center to build around. Any big man mentioned in rumors could land here. As for selling, Morey has put half the team on the block, including Courtney Lee, Jared Jeffries, Yao Ming, Shane Battier, Jordan Hill, and Aaron Brooks (listed in order of how prevalent rumors have been, and secondarily how likely they are to be dealt). Lee could land with any team seeking a SG, such as Chicago, Boston, New Orleans, or Utah, with the rest being complete wild cards. As for Brooks, if you're wondering why the trade rumors have died down – it's by Houston's design to not appear desperate and also because his $2 million salary is hard to match in a trade while getting equal value. If he does go, which is really his only path to true value, it will have to be in a huge trade in which multiple contracts can mitigate that fact. That's a lot of 'ifs.'

The Contenders

Orlando: They need another big man for both their chances of making it to the NBA Finals, but also to show Dwight Howard that they're all about winning. Earl Clark, Quentin Richardson, and Chris Duhon are the chips that are most likely to be used to return a player, but they might have to part with Jason Richardson or Ryan Anderson to get an impact player. Troy Murphy's name has been mentioned, but he doesn't really fulfill a need, and it's been surprisingly quiet out of Orlando. It's possible they're waiting to signal their intentions until the Melo trade goes down. Any upgrade at PF or backup C should be considered to be on their radar.

New Orleans, Chicago, Boston: All are searching for shooting guards from the pool of Anthony Parker, J.R. Smith, Courtney Lee, and will all be interested in Richard Hamilton if he can get bought out. Kirk Hinrich would be more attractive if he wasn't set to make $8 million next season, while on the other hand a guy like Rasual Butler with his $2.4 million expiring contract could draw some interest. O.J. Mayo will get a sniff but don't expect teams to give up much, and would theoretically have a path to fantasy value in New Orleans, similarly to any of those listed here. Otherwise, Chicago and Boston will be graveyards with primary fantasy options fully in place.

Oklahoma City: They aren't going to give Jeff Green away, but they risk losing him for nothing when they don't move forward with him after next season. The Thunder are also interested in a big-man, so all of the big-man names in both trade deadline articles should be considered – but keep in mind they're not going to ruin their flexibility going forward. Like I said in the last article, I like Green to keep his value going elsewhere, since it's unlikely he'll play with two dominating forces like Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, and is a good bet to at least hold his touches. On a separate plane of thought, however, is that we may be finding out that Green simply isn't as good as we previously thought. I'm not calling it a wrap on Green, but I'm concerned.

Dallas: They are looking for a small forward and will always be a wildcard at the deadline. However, this year I do believe that they'll be selective and less aggressive than in years past. They are on the hunt for a SF and Tayshaun Prince, Antawn Jamison, and Stephen Jackson have all been mentioned. All three of them would require a major commitment contractually from Dallas, and while they have the means to do it, they will wait until they get the right leverage. If I have to pick a name off this list that they will get, it would be Jackson. If the Pistons weren't in the middle of the sale of the team, I would pick Prince. Either way, owners should not adjust their values for any of these players based on Dallas' involvement alone, but I've been calling all three sell-high candidates for various reasons -- including their potential to be traded to a contender.

Los Angeles Lakers: The Chris Broussard story that indicated there were serious talks between the Lakers and Nuggets for Carmelo Anthony may be the funniest of the year, and the fact that ESPN decided to waste everybody's time on it by running with it as a piece of serious journalism was dreadful. Then again, it did provide cover for owners of Raymond Felton and other Knicks to sell so in a way it was a good thing. The Lakers are not likely to be buying or selling anything at this deadline, and never were, and if they do it will be a small piece. Nobody wants Ron Artest, and the Lakers have a bunch of old guys that nobody wants. For those fans that thought they should have traded Andrew Bynum for Melo, keep in mind that while the 7-footer has had injuries – he's a rare commodity. Bringing on another superstar-level player in Melo would have severely hindered their cap flexibility, and they already have a primary scorer – Kobe. And the bottom line is that the Lakers aren't ready to turn their franchise over to Melo, who is seen as a top-tier player but not a winner. He doesn't play defense and he can't lead, and he comes with the baggage of World Wide Wes and CAA. Not going to happen.

Miami: They signed their deal with the devil this summer, so any move that they make will be a long-shot to happen with what we know now.
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Buyers and Sellers

The Sixers were selling Andre Iguodala all year, and would save a lot of money by moving him, but his trade buzz has dropped to the ocean floor after his and the Sixers' turnaround. Of course, in basketball as in life, once you stop trying is when the offers start flooding in – so I'm not putting it completely to bed until the clock ticks midnight.

The Pacers were also sellers before Frank Vogel became the warm body to benefit from the removal of coaching disaster Jim O'Brien. I'm kidding about Vogel, who has said and done all the right things so far, but I'm not kidding about O'Brien. Sometimes it's not about you, Jim. Due to their hot streak, the only players that are still being mentioned in trade buzz are the expiring contracts of Jeff Foster, Mike Dunleavy, and T.J. Ford. Larry Bird was pretty bullish on the trade deadline two weeks ago, so I won't rule out anything, but two weeks ago the Pacers were a different organization.

Deron Williams would have gotten top billing in this column if folks weren't still scrambling to understand the meaning of reports that he wants to be a Knick when his contract is up. It will be that same fact that keeps him in Utah past this deadline. He will deny that he leaked the report, and try to play nice, but blood has been drawn the past few weeks. And with the Jazz losing the last 14 of 17 games, they might turn on a dime and become sellers. Andrei Kirilenko has been the expiring contract that has garnered the most discussion, but there haven't too many rumors out there except for a Pistons rumor that would send Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince to the Great Salt Lake. As for Williams, if the Jazz have any concern that they're already out of the running to re-sign him, then they should be trading him now. But they'll have a tough time going through the machinations that return max value for trade assets, like poking and prodding other team's decision-makers, in such a small window of time. And once they open Pandora's Box, it's over for D-Will in Utah. Fans already have their pitchforks – all they need is a torch.

The Cavs and Raptors are going to see their big trade exceptions from over the summer go to waste if things hold true to form, but they won't hesitate to be 'parking lots' for other deals. The exceptions won't bring back big talent like exceptions often do, but they'll be looking to stockpile picks and/or young talent. This also serves as exhibit 'Q' for why Denver could not afford to wait and trade Melo in a sign-and-trade or sign-and-extend this offseason. Anthony Parker remains the most likely player to be traded for the Cavs, and is also one of the league's most tradable players, as previously discussed.

Ramon Sessions is also drawing interest around the league, but the Cavs aren't getting any good offers. It sounds like the Hawks, who have expressed interest, may have offered Marvin Williams and his hefty contract, which was a no-go. Mo Williams has not drawn interest around the league, and recently Portland shot down the idea of somehow swapping Williams for Andre Miller, letting you know how the league views Williams' injury, toughness, and contract. I think owners should still be holding both Sessions and Williams, at least throughout the trade deadline, and if possible I would hold Sessions past the deadline even if Mo Williams stays. I just don't trust Mo to stay healthy and/or motivated to play in Cleveland anymore. As for Marvin, there's not enough interest or fantasy value in most formats for owners to get worked up about his being available, but it's worth keeping an eye on.

The Grizzlies lost Rudy Gay and lost their chances at the postseason, and while I mentioned in Thursday's Dose that Zach Randolph is a sell-high player with his expiring contract – it has been radio silence out of Memphis. They have an incompetent owner and may have a hard time figuring out how to make the pivot from contender to rebuilder, but they will lose Randolph for absolutely nothing since they have no plans to re-sign him. There are plenty of teams that need a big-man, so I'm not willing to call him a dead issue just yet. I think the combination of the Melo trade and the lack of reporting out of the Memphis paper are also at play, but one way or another I think the Grizzlies will be selling both O.J. Mayo and Randolph before the break.

New names, faces, and places

That's really just a catch-all heading for the updates that we've gotten since the last trade piece, so let's do it Four Quarters of Fury style to break it up.

First Quarter: Troy Murphy has been a hot topic, and the Warriors have thrown a ton of interest his way but much of that was tied up in the non-existent DEN-NJ trade. As it stands, he has no shortage of suitors in the event of a buyout, but a trade will need some extra time to consummate. Owners should not be expecting much here. There are simply too many permutations that will result in him playing limited minutes, and his physical condition should be a question. We're not in Indiana anymore, Toto.

Second Quarter: Sources say that Richard Hamilton will need to take a hit in the wallet to get a buyout, but what else would you expect Detroit to leak out to the press. I think there's enough juice here to get a deal done in some way, shape, or form – but from a pure fantasy perspective I'm not caring in 14-team formats. A buyout would likely yield him landing with a contender, and he was scraping by for fantasy value the past few years as a primary guy because all he can do is shoot.

Third Quarter: Michael Redd is an interesting name because his absurd $18 million expiring contract is covered mostly by insurance. Throw in the fact that he has a slight chance at contributing and you may have yourself a deal. And no, I couldn't care less from a fantasy perspective. Carl Landry's $3 million expiring deal could be enticing to a few teams, which would help both the Sacramento frontcourt's fantasy value and his. I'll be watching closely. Sacramento is going to stay cap-neutral and may be moving out of my backyard, and I for one almost want to see it happen (I don't) -- just to hear what the 'we don't care' crowd says to the subsequent drop in the economy, but I digress.

Fourth Quarter: Boris Diaw has been aggressively shopped by the Bobcats, and their whole team is on the block. Sell Diaw now before he lands somewhere that he can't stand outside and 'facilitate.' There have been no rumors surrounding S-Jax and Crash, but that's probably due to the Melo log-jam. Chris Kaman is still a hot name and his solid performance before the break didn't hurt. Antawn Jamison, with Mo Williams, seems more and more likely by the day to stay in Cleveland unless they're willing to get less value in the deal. In Cleveland's rebuilding position, it's less likely but not impossible. Again, like with most teams there's been no reason to give up leverage by announcing intentions with the Melo trade holding matters up. Samuel Dalembert, Kris Humphries, Anderson Varejao, and Joel Przybilla are all names to watch. Dante Cunningham was offered to Philly for Marreese Speights, and the Sixers had no interest.

 

[HacheMan]

Dose: Kobe MVP, Beasley Ankle
All-Star Weekend is behind us and other than Dwyane Wade's ankle, which doesn't sound too bad, players came out of the weekend healthy. There are no games on Monday so other than the weekly Yahoo! leagues, lineups aren't due until Tuesday night. There are several different Carmelo Anthony rumors still out there, as well as conflicting reports about how meetings with the Nets and Knicks went over the weekend. Mikhail Prokhorov seems to be talking out of both sides of his mouth, saying that the Nets had a fantastic meeting with Melo, while also trying to say that he is still trying to stay out of the race for Melo, but was just being a team player by attending the meeting. Whatever happens, it sounds like the battle for Melo may not end until Thursday's trade deadline. And it still sounds like both the Nets and Knicks have a shot at him, but either way, there are only four more shopping days left, thankfully. The latest news is that Melo plans on giving the Nets an answer on Monday, so stay tuned.

Isiah Thomas is also in the news right now, as several reports suggest he's the way in the Knicks' efforts to land Melo. Either way, the fact that he's even involved to some extent should be a major concern for Knicks fans. It took Donnie Walsh two years to clean up the mess left by Isiah and if he ends up replacing Walsh at some point, the Knicks could be doomed as long as James Dolan owns the team. Just my opinion.

My All-Star predictions were pretty unsuccessful, but in case you missed it, here's the short version of what happened this weekend.

Atlanta won the Shooting Stars competition (parade downtown today).
Stephen Curry won the Skills Challenge.
James Jones won the 3-point Contest.
Blake Griffin jumped the shark – er, I mean car – and won the Dunk Contest.
The West beat the East as Kobe Bryant won MVP of the All-Star Game.

Deron Williams rebuked a report that he wants to go play in New York after next season, but I'd put the chances of him staying in Utah at 50-50.

Aaron Bruski has updated his Trade Deadline Breakdown column, so check it out for the latest.

And follow me on Twitter here.

Injury Report

Joakim Noah is ready to return on Feb. 23, which is Wednesday. He's said to be in great shape and I expect him to come in and contribute right away. If you've been holding him all this time, I think it makes sense to get him into your lineup right away.

Mo Williams missed all but three minutes of his last game, when Ramon Sessions torched the Lakers for one of the most surprising outcomes of the season. I'm guessing he's fine for Wednesday against Houston, but that doesn't mean that he's a must-start. Then again, while it sounds like Williams isn't likely to be traded prior to Thursday's deadline, the same can't be said of Sessions. If Sessions goes to Atlanta, or another team, Williams then regains must-start status.

Eric Gordon will be re-examined on Monday before we know his status going forward. Until you get some good news, and by that I mean a definitive date that he will be back in uniform, keep him benched. Randy Foye remains a must-start player until Gordon is back.

Baron Davis' knee allowed him to play 30-plus minutes in his last game before the break, and I'm hoping he got plenty of rest and treatment on it over the weekend (when he wasn't throwing alley-oops to Blake Griffin through a sun roof). Diddy should be safe to start, but my concern is him aggravating the injury at some point.

Rudy Gay, in my opinion, isn't likely to play another game for the Grizzlies this season. Again, that's just a guess and if you're planning on hanging onto him the rest of the way, you have to hope the Grizzlies stay in the playoff hunt. Either way, Sam Young and Tony Allen are going to get as much run as they can handle between now and April 1, and should be owned in most leagues. I dropped Andris Biedrins for Young in one league last night.

Dwyane Wade left the All-Star Game after tweaking his left ankle and said afterward that he was fine. He's done a pretty nice job of playing through his nagging injuries this season and should be on the court Tuesday against the Kings.
www.miamiheat.ws
Mike Miller got good news over the weekend and does not have a concussion. That doesn't mean he's a lock to return on Tuesday, but things are looking up. If he's stuck in your lineup for the rest of the week, there's at least a decent chance he'll play. But if you can set a new lineup before Tuesday's games, I'd put him on the bench if you have options.

Jonny Flynn should miss another game or two with general fatigue and it appears to be another lost season for him.

Michael Beasley has now missed five straight games with his ankle injury, and while the hope is that he'll be ready for Tuesday at Milwaukee, it's not a guarantee. Hopefully the Wolves are back at practice on Monday and we'll get some good news from Jerry Zgoda. But as of now, I'd only plan on starting him if we hear that he will play on Tuesday.

Ersan Ilyasova missed his two games heading into the break with an "eye contusion" and remains day-to-day. My guess is he'll be ready to go for Tuesday night, but we haven't heard that from anyone in Milwaukee. Ilyasova, along with Corey Maggette, John Salmons and Carlos Delfino remains an intriguing fantasy option, but each of these guys could cancel the other out from night to night.

Troy Murphy is not injured, but will be moved at some point soon. If you want to pick him up for the stash, I'm now on board, but it all depends on where he ends up as to whether or not he will help your team down the stretch. But if he's in shape, the odds are in your favor.

Trevor Ariza tweaked his ankle at the end of Wednesday's game, leaving him iffy for Wednesday against the Clippers. My guess is he'll play, but he's another guy to watch for updates on over the next 24 hours as the Hornets get back to practice.

Emeka Okafor is another big question mark with his left oblique strain. It sounds like there's a pretty good chance he'll play on Wednesday, but I need to see one more positive report out of New Orleans before declaring him good to go. Keep your eyes peeled for news.

Anthony Randolph is another guy who is not injured, but not playing much for the Knicks. As I said in Waiver Wired, it sounds like he's going to Minnesota, which certainly can't hurt. If Troy Murphy is gone and you want to stash Ant-Rand, I'm in. He could at least get decent minutes off the bench for the Wolves, meaning he will block some shots, rebound, steal and score. At least he should.

Spencer Hawes left Wednesday's game with a sprained ankle after posting one of his better lines of the season. He's another guy we're anxiously awaiting a fresh report on, so just keep an eye on news updates until we hear something.

Marcus Camby is now threatening to retire if he's traded, while he also remains day-to-day with his knee injury. Given that he doesn't want to be traded, it's possible he keeps himself shelved until after the deadline, so just keep him on your bench until we get an update.

Brandon Roy plans on playing Wednesday against the Lakers after a pair of knee surgeries. Start him at your own risk, but look for him to come off the bench and see somewhat limited minutes when he does play. Chances are you have a more reliable option to go with this week, so don't get sucked in by his big name, which isn't quite as big as it once was.

Tyreke Evans is another big one, as he missed his last two games with plantar fasciitis and there's now talk that he could miss an extended period of time. He's meeting with a specialist again on Monday and we should know more after that happens. Keep him benched for now, and hope for good news tonight.

Andrei Kirilenko has been out with an ankle injury but does sound prepared to play on Wednesday. I'm not brave enough to throw in him into a lineup just yet, but could change my mind if we get good news on Monday or Tuesday.

Rashard Lewis and Nick Young should both practice on Monday despite knee injuries, but make sure it happens before putting them into lineups. Lewis is probably going to have problems with his knee the rest of the way, but if healthy, Josh Howard will come off the bench. Again, watch for updates from the Wizards' practice on Monday night and then weigh your options carefully.

 

[HacheMan]

Dose: Afflalo Falling?
Well, it finally happened. Carmelo Anthony is going to the Knicks! In case you missed Adam Levitan's breakdown of the deal, check it out here. Matt Stroup will be live chatting today at 1, and you can check that out right here.

The Trade

For now, Denver is getting Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, the Knicks' 2014 first-round draft pick, the Warriors' 2012 second-round pick, the Warriors' 2013 second-round pick and $3 million. Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter, Renaldo Balkman and Corey Brewer (via Minnesota) are all going to New York, while the Knicks will ship Anthony Randolph and Eddy Curry to the Wolves.

Knicks

I know many Knicks fans are bummed out about them shipping the whole team out of town, but Amare Stoudemire, Melo and Billups is a nice core. The biggest problem I see the Knicks having is at center, as Ronny Turiaf is the only one still on the roster. Turiaf hasn't been healthy enough to be relied upon this season and extra minutes probably means more injury woes for him and Mike D'Antoni. Shelden Williams and Renaldo Balkman might be forced into serious minutes when Turiaf is hurt, as they're really the only other big men D'Antoni has at his disposal. And if they're going to get run, Amare Stoudemire is going to be playing a lot of center. But just because Williams and Balkman are going to get minutes doesn't mean they have fantasy value.

As for fantasy implications for the rest of the Knicks, Melo, Amare and Billups shouldn't change too much, Landry Fields could take a hit with a few less shots per game, with Turiaf getting a boost. Corey Brewer didn't have much value in Minnesota, but could see a bit more of a role for the Knicks. Having said that, there's no reason to rush out and pick him up.

Nuggets

The Nuggets will now have to decide whether or not they're keeping or trading Felton. If they keep him, he's going to split minutes with Ty Lawson and both players take a fantasy hit. If they trade him (Hawks?), Lawson becomes a top fantasy point guard and Felton might not lose any value if he goes to the right team. Either way, Lawson knows the system and knows what Karl is looking for, which means he's going to be the starter, even if Felton is a better player right now.

Arron Afflalo is a guy I'm worried about, as he is going to now have to fight for minutes with Chandler and Gallinari, both of whom are more skilled basketball players than Afflalo. I would even consider dropping him at this point if you have your eye on another free agent. Maybe I'm wrong, but Afflalo nearly fell out of Round 1 in the 2007 draft and doesn't have the same pedigree as Gallinari and Chandler. But also keep in mind Gallinari might not be staying long in Denver, which would help Afflalo's cause.

J.R. Smith might end up starting initially, but I bet George Karl still likes the thought of him coming off the bench. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if both Chandler and Gallinari are starting over Afflalo and Smith in two weeks. But for now, Smith is probably worth a flier. Kenyon Martin and Nene should continue to start with Mozgov backing up Nene, and Chandler possibly playing some PF, along with Al Harrington and Chris Andersen, when K-Mart is injured or resting. Keep a close eye on the point guard situation. Yes, Lawson is the future, but Felton is basically having an all-star season and is going to get minutes regardless of whether he stays or goes.

For the Timberwolves, things don't change a whole lot. Martell Webster's job is more secure with Brewer out of the way, while it should also mean more minutes for Wesley Johnson. Anthony Randolph is going to finally see some minutes for Kurt Rambis, but he's got a little roadblock in his way named Kevin Love. I still think grabbing Randolph makes sense, but just don't set your expectations very high. And if Eddy Curry is somehow healthy enough to play, he might actually get into some games, but that doesn't mean he should be on any fantasy rosters.

Keep in mind more trades are coming and several of the players I just wrote about could be moving soon. The Clippers are said to be trying to get Gallinari, which would be a big deal and solid upgrade over Ryan Gomes, while Felton could also be on the move soon. And the Nets are still hoping to wheel and deal, with Devin Harris almost certainly heading out of town, and if they don't get a point guard to replace him, Jordan Farmar is going to be worth owning.

Injury News and Notes

Dwyane Wade practiced and should be good to go for tonight despite a sore ankle. Make sure he's in your lineup. Mike Miller didn't practice and despite not having a concussion, is being treated with kid gloves due to all the shots he's taken to the head this year. Bench him if you can.

Michael Beasley is probable for tonight at Milwaukee so get him back in your lineups. He's missed five straight games with a sprained ankle and the only risk of playing him now is the chance he aggravates the injury.

Nick Young's knee is feeling better and he should be back for tonight's game against the Pacers. Rashard Lewis is also expected to play tonight, but it sounds like he'll be limited. If you have options, I'd put Lewis on the bench. Kirk Hinrich is out tonight with a mysterious calf injury, meaning more minutes for both John Wall and Young.

For the Sixers, Spencer Hawes was a go in practice and sounds like a lock to start tomorrow. He had a nice double-double in his last game and has a good matchup with JaVale McGee tomorrow, but that still doesn't mean he should automatically be in starting lineups.

Andrei Kirilenko is back from his ankle injury and will be starting for the Jazz tomorrow. Weigh your options carefully, but if AK-47 can stay healthy for the whole week, he should put up solid numbers in his three games.

Ersan Ilyasova will start tonight despite his eye injury, while it remains to be seen if Carlos Delfino or Corey Maggette will get the starting call tonight. John Salmons appears to be locked in as the starting shooting guard, and because Maggette's back still isn't fully healthy, my guess is Delfino will start again tonight.

Eric Gordon is out for at least another week, meaning Randy Foye is still relevant. Maybe Gordon will be back on Monday, but he could easily take longer that that to return from his wrist injury.

Emeka Okafor practiced for the Hornets on Monday and remains questionable for Wednesday. My guess is he's playing since he practiced, but we'll have to wait and see if I'm right or not.

Mo Williams didn't practice much on Monday and Byron Scott wasn't pleased with how he looked. Williams is dealing with an ankle injury, but I think his state of mind is probably a bigger issue. If Ramon Sessions is still available in your league, he shouldn't be after you finish reading this sentence.

D.J. Augustin's wrist is healthy again and he looked good in Monday's practice. The run of Shaun Livingston might have been a short one, but I'd hang onto him for a few more days to see how Augustin looks after his time off. My guess is that Augustin retakes control of the job again now that he's rested and healthy.

Tyreke Evans is out on Tuesday and is seeing another foot specialist, as well as getting an MRI on his troublesome foot. The rumors we've heard are that he'll be shut down for an extended time, but that hasn't happened yet, and is not guaranteed to. Hopefully the doctors will tell him to suck it up and get back on the floor. Get him on your in all leagues for now.

Joakim Noah will be back and ready to roll on Wednesday, so get him in your lineup. I am expecting him to pick up right where he left off.

 

[HacheMan]

Boosting Beaubois?
It's rare that a championship quality team tinkers with their starting five this late in the season. The Spurs, Lakers, Celtics and Heat all are locked and loaded for the most part. But credit has to be given to Dallas and coach Rick Carlisle for being willing to change at this juncture. In the last two weeks, he has changed 40 percent of his starting lineup and sent ripples through his rotation.

Coaches are constantly tinkering, toying and yanking around with rotations. Sometimes it has to do with injuries. In other instances, it's a result of ineffective play from a certain player. The effect this has on minutes played and thus statistical production is where we come in.

Each week in this space, I'll explore the rotations of half the league's teams while attempting to get inside coaches' heads. The idea is not to tell you what Kevin Durant and LeBron James are going to do -- it's to decipher how much production we can get out of fringe players. Last week, I hit the East. Let's start this week off with the Mavericks, where Roddy Beaubois and Peja Stojakovic find themselves starting.

* Note that lineups listed reflect the starters in the team's previous game. Stats are through Monday's games unless otherwise noted.

<BIG>DALLAS</BIG>
PG Jason Kidd
SG Roddy Beaubois
SF Peja Stojakovic
PF Dirk Nowitzki
C Tyson Chandler

Roddy Beaubois projects as the Mavs' starting shooting guard for the rest of the season. It's an easy decision -- Roddy B is a Ferrari and DeShawn Stevenson is a Pinto. However, we need to keep minute projections in check despite the starting status.

The Mavs prefer to bring Jason Terry off the bench -- but play him starter's minutes. Terry is playing 32.2 minutes per game this year and has played no less than 33 minutes per game in four of the previous five seasons. He's going to get his. J.J. Barea has also been playing at a high level of late. He is averaging 24.5 minutes per game over his last eight contests.

So what we have is about 26-29 minutes available for Beaubois. It's certainly enough for him to be worth an add in most formats thanks to his high shooting volume and 3-point/steal upside. But expecting much more than 12-14 points per game the rest of the way is a stretch for a 22-year-old kid that hasn't played since August.

Meanwhile, Peja Stojakovic has settled into his starting small forward role and produced about how we expected. He'll hover around 20 minutes nightly and jack up 4-5 treys per game. But without any defensive, assist or rebounding numbers, Peja is a just a weak specialist. His current 9.7 points and 1.5 treys a game should be the norm until his knees give out.

Editor's Note: Draft a hoops team just for tonight and win real cash in SnapDraft!

<BIG>DENVER</BIG>
PG Chauncey Billups
SG Arron Afflalo
SF Carmelo Anthony
PF Kenyon Martin
C Nene

The biggest thing we can take from the entire Carmelo Anthony mess is that the Nuggets will be turning the keys over to Ty Lawson. Even when they get Raymond Felton, they plan on moving him along immediately. It's a wise move as Felton is ready to play right now.

In 14 career starts, Lawson is averaging 16.4 points, 5.9 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.2 3-pointers per game. The scary part is that those numbers can get even better as he is still getting used to the NBA game. Lawson should be nowhere near any waiver wires at this point as he stares 32-34 minutes a night in the face.

Here is a projected Knicks rotation if/when the trade goes down: Chauncey Billups, Landry Fields, Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire and Timofey Mozgov. Carmelo and Billups take small hits from playing with another superstar, but that will be canceled out by coach Mike D'Antoni's up-tempo offense.

As for projecting the Nuggets rotation A.C. (after Carmelo), it is an exercise in futility. Once the Melo bomb drops, Nene, J.R. Smith, Al Harrington, any Knicks they get and more are all likely to be moved. It's going to be one giant mess that we can only follow as it unfolds.

<BIG>GOLDEN STATE</BIG>
PG Stephen Curry
SG Monta Ellis
SF Dorell Wright
PF David Lee
C Andris Biedrins

Stephen Curry is not ready to guard the best point guards in the NBA and it is showing in foul trouble. Deron Williams, Chris Paul and Chauncey Billups have each saddled him with fouls over the last five games, leading to three sub-30 minute nights. It's a concern, but there is no reason to panic. Curry's game is just so unbelievably roto-friendly that it is worth riding out his youth for the top-5 upside.

There was some thought that Andris Biedrins had turned the corner. Nope. With averages of 3.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in his last eight games, it's clear he has not. The only reason he is still starting and getting 20-22 minutes nightly is that Ekpe Udoh is not ready to play yet. Biedrins is also still starting because the Warriors have also won seven of their last nine games despite his ineffectiveness. This is a situation to avoid.

<BIG>HOUSTON</BIG>
PG Kyle Lowry
SG Kevin Martin
SF Shane Battier
PF Luis Scola
C Chuck Hayes

The Rockets are expected to be one of the more active teams at the trading deadline, although Aaron Brooks rumors have been slim to none. At this point, a trade to somewhere he could get playing time would be a surprise. Names more likely to be dealt include Shane Battier, Jared Jeffries and the expiring contract of Yao Ming.

The goal would be to bring back some size. Chuck Hayes is doing his best, but at 6-foot-6 he is not a realistic long-term option. Hayes has played 25 minutes or fewer in each of his last three games, losing minutes to Jordan Hill, Patrick Patterson and Brad Miller. The odds of Hayes regaining those 30-plus minutes are low -- feel free to cut bait.

<BIG>LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS</BIG>
PG Baron Davis
SG Randy Foye
SF Ryan Gomes
PF Blake Griffin
C DeAndre Jordan

Chris Kaman was not expected back until the end of February or early March. Then, out of nowhere, he popped up for 9.5 minutes in the final game before the All-Star break. The line was impressive, even though it came against the Wolves: Four points, six rebounds, three blocks. So now the question is what will become of the Kaman/DeAndre Jordan situation?

Jordan appeared to hit a wall over the last two weeks. In nine February games, he averaged just 6.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks while seeing his minutes sink to 28.1 a night. That's not him, he's a better player than that. But the Clippers lost seven of those nine games and Jordan is taking some of the blame.

Look for Kaman to ramp up his minutes slowly. Jordan will likely continue to start and get his 26-28 minutes while Kaman makes sure his ankle soreness doesn't linger. If Jordan doesn't snap out of his funk, Kaman would take over at that point. There is enough room for both to play around 28 minutes, making both well worth owning in fantasy. Remember that just one year ago, Kaman averaged 18.5 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks.

Although Jordan took some of the blame for the recent losing streak, most of it is being blamed on Eric Gordon's (wrist) absence. Since Randy Foye took over as a starter, the Clips are 4-11. As soon as Gordon is ready, he'll get back in the starting lineup and relegate Foye to waiver wire fodder. But with Gordon likely out another week, owners may as well ride out Foye. He is averaging an obscene 36.3 minutes per game as a starter.

Editor's Note: For weekly projections, daily pickup advice, exclusive columns and much more, check out Rotoworld's Season Pass!

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<BIG>LOS ANGELES LAKERS</BIG>
PG Derek Fisher
SG Kobe Bryant
SF Ron Artest
PF Pau Gasol
C Andrew Bynum

The Lakers were playing terrible basketball heading into the break, but a significant change in the rotation is unlikely. Ron Artest won't draw any real interest on the trade market, the Carmelo Anthony for Andrew Bynum rumors were never valid and the Lakers insist on bringing Lamar Odom off the bench.

So what we have is the same old story. One change down the stretch could stem from the fact that the Lakers are 9.5 games up on the Suns in the Pacific Division. Rest for Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol is a concern. That could potentially help Lamar Odom, but damage here has been done. In Odom's last eight games, he is averaging 11.7 points and 6.6 boards in just 29.2 minutes a night. For the fourth straight time in this column, we are selling high.

<BIG>MEMPHIS</BIG>
PG Mike Conley
SG Sam Young
SF Rudy Gay
PF Zach Randolph
C Marc Gasol

As we all know by now, Rudy Gay partially dislocated his shoulder in the Grizzlies' final game before the break and will be out at least four weeks. Even if Gay does get back at that four week mark, the Grizzlies will only have 12 games left in the season. If the Grizz slip out of the playoff race, Gay may not even come back at all. Whether you can hang on solely depends on your format.

Coach Lionel Hollins has not said who will start in place of Gay, but I expect it to be Tony Allen. O.J. Mayo was coming off the bench for a reason and the Grizz went 8-2 during his 10-game suspension. Allen has proven to be a force -- and not just on the defensive end. In eight starts this season, he is averaging 13.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.1 steals, 1.1 blocks and 0.4 treys.

So look for about 33-36 minutes out of Allen and 27-29 for Mayo. Allen has room to improve on those previously stated numbers and is a must-own in all formats. Mayo gets a little boost as well.

Sam Young had locked himself into a starting role even before Gay went down. Over the last eight games, Young was averaging 14.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 36.7 minutes a night. There's not much room for more playing time, but there is room for more shot attempts. Over that stretch, Young was putting up 12.1 field goals a night. With Gay's 16.1 attempts per night now out of the lineup, look for Young to take as many as 15 shots. Consider him a must-start in most formats.

<BIG>MINNESOTA</BIG>
PG Luke Ridnour
SG Martell Webster
SF Corey Brewer
PF Kevin Love
C Darko Milicic

As predicted here, Jonny Flynn is nowhere close to stealing Luke Ridnour's job. Flynn was just average as a rookie and his hip labrum repair has proven to be a major setback. Ridnour is a better in both real life and fantasy, locking him into 32-34 minutes nightly even when Flynn gets back from his little rest.

Meanwhile, Martell Webster quietly appears to have passed Wes Johnson on the depth chart. He projects as a sixth man once Michael Beasley (ankle) gets healthy, but note that Corey Brewer is likely to be dealt. In that case, Webster would start as a fantasy asset in 3-pointers. He is averaging 2.1 3-pointers per 36 minutes in his career. Just keep an eye on Webster's back -- it has been bothering him all year.

If/when the proposed trade between the Knicks and the Nuggets goes down, the Wolves will acquire Anthony Randolph. Randolph's tantalizing talent is intriguing, but we have to realize he has essentially been cut by two separate teams already. Expecting more than 20-25 minutes in an already-crowded rotation is a stretch, but deep leaguers can take a speculative look.

<BIG>NEW ORLEANS</BIG>
PG Chris Paul
SG Willie Green
SF Trevor Ariza
PF David West
C Jason Smith

Marco Belinelli has officially been replaced by Willie Green. It's an embarrassing turn of events for Belinelli, whose long-term outlook in the league needs to be assessed. Given every opportunity to succeed next to Chris Paul, the Italian averaged just 10.0 points and shot 40.8 percent in 51 starts this year.

As for Green, here are his numbers in seven starts this year: 14.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 1.0 treys, 0.4 steals on 51.9 percent shooting. It's an empty statline and considering Green is a career 42.5 percent shooter, the points do not project to sustain. He's a weak option.

Note that Emeka Okafor (oblique) is questionable Wednesday, 3 1/2 weeks after his 1-3 week timetable. He should be at full strength soon and ready for his usual 31-33 minutes shortly.

<BIG>OKLAHOMA CITY</BIG>
PG Russell Westbrook
SG Thabo Sefolosha
SF Kevin Durant
PF Jeff Green
C Nenad Krstic

That brief crisis over Serge Ibaka's minutes is a distant memory. He has been hovering around 26 minutes per night all season and that's exactly where he will be the rest of the way. If you can't use his February numbers of 8.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks, you're in the wrong league. Forget that he's not starting, the roles here are as stable as it gets in the NBA.

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<BIG>PHOENIX</BIG>
PG Steve Nash
SG Vince Carter
SF Grant Hill
PF Channing Frye
C Robin Lopez

Vince Carter's usage over the last week has been alarming. Before logging 31.8 minutes on Thursday, Carter was averaging just 19.1 minutes per game over his previous four. It wasn't because he was injured -- it was simply because Mickael Pietrus and Jared Dudley were playing better. In other words, Carter has been put on notice and he has to step up.

I'm not convinced Carter is capable of raising his game at this point in his career. Since joining the Suns at age 34, his field-goal percentage is down to 42.4 percent while his 3-point attempts are up to 4.8 per game. It's a sign that he can no longer get to the rim. Look for his minutes to continue to fall.

We can only consider Robin Lopez's 13 point, 13 rebound performance on Thursday night a fluke. In the previous seven games, Marcin Gortat was averaging 30.2 minutes per game. That will be the norm as Gortat is clearly the better player.

<BIG>PORTLAND</BIG>
PG Andre Miller
SG Wesley Matthews
SF Nicolas Batum
PF LaMarcus Aldridge
C Dante Cunningham

This situation is extremely fluid. First of all, Brandon Roy is expected to test his knee in practice Tuesday in the hopes that the Blazers will let him play Wednesday. Once cleared, he will be eased in off the bench for somewhere around 20 minutes. Again, note that his dual scopes were designed for short-term relief -- he fully intends to contribute in a significant manner this season. His minutes will cut into Patty Mills and Rudy Fernandez -- not as much Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum. There is enough room here for Roy to get back around 28-30 minutes and be a fantasy asset.

Marcus Camby (knee) is also tentatively expected back this week, although he does not want to be traded. That could make him sit out through Thursday's deadline. Either way, look for Camby to stay -- the Blazers are just too thin up front. Camby should quickly get back up around 28-30 minutes as well.

Andre Miller is certainly on the trading block and seems likely to get moved. Without a clear-cut destination, however, we cannot make any preemptive moves.

<BIG>SACRAMENTO</BIG>
PG Beno Udrih
SG Jermaine Taylor
SF Omri Casspi
PF DeMarcus Cousins
C Samuel Dalembert

The latest setback with Tyreke Evans' plantar fasciitis has to be considered a major concern. With just 29 games left in the year and the Kings sporting a 13-40 record, there isn't much incentive for Evans to fight through the kind of pain this injury includes. Even if he does end up playing later this week, he is a poor bet to sustain health all the way to the end.

However, don't get sucked into Jermaine Taylor's outburst from last Wednesday. The 2009 second-round pick is a borderline NBA talent that caught he Mavs off guard. Beno Udrih is the real beneficiary if Evans shuts it down. And coach Paul Westphal is prone to sending Taylor back to the pine at the first hint of struggles.

DeMarcus Cousins' 33 point, 14 rebound in the Rookie Challenge showed the world what we already know -- this kid is special. Still only 20 years old and growing into his body, he has the upside to be a 20 and 10 player for a long, long time if he can keep his head on straight. While Samuel Dalembert, Carl Landry and Jason Thompson all cancel each other out, Cousins will be the constant. His 17.4 points, 11.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks over his last seven games are sustainable.
www.miamiheat.ws
<BIG>SAN ANTONIO</BIG>
PG Tony Parker
SG Manu Ginobili
SF Richard Jefferson
PF Tim Duncan
C DeJuan Blair

Coach Gregg Popovich sent owners into a tizzy when he brought Manu Ginobili off the bench against the Wizards on Feb. 12. It turns out it was just a one-game thing to get Manu some rest, but the intent is worth noting here. Ginobili is shooting 36.9 percent over his last nine games and appears to be wearing down after that scalding start. With more rest on the horizon, Ginobili is a sell-high candidate on name value.

Speaking of name value, Tim Duncan is averaging just 25.8 minutes a night over his last nine games. As I led with two weeks ago, Duncan is on cruise control. DeJuan Blair, who played just 19.6 minutes in the last game before the break, is a nice buy-low.

<BIG>UTAH</BIG>
PG Deron Williams
SG Gordon Hayward
SF C.J. Miles
PF Paul Millsap
C Al Jefferson

New coach Tyrone Corbin has been pretty clear about his intentions with the rotation. Like Jerry Sloan, he sees C.J. Miles as a bench player. That means Raja Bell (calf) will start right out of the break, sending Miles back to the bench. We don't need to dig too deep to realize how much of a hit this is to Miles' value.

C.J. Miles as a starter: 18.0 ppg, 2.0 3-pointers per game, 36.6 minutes.
C.J. Miles as a reserve: 11.9 ppg, 1.5 3-pointers per game, 23.1 minutes.

Andrei Kirilenko (ankle) will also get his starting job back when healthy. Note that in Corbin's first game, Kirilenko played the entire first quarter and ended up with eight points, five rebounds and two assists. Playing at a level reminiscent of a few years back, AK47 remains an extremely underrated fantasy asset with an up arrow.

 

[HacheMan]

Fallout: Carmelo is a Knick
One of the biggest trades in NBA history is expected to become official Tuesday -- as long as all physicals are passed. Here is a quick-hitting look at the potential fallout for the key players:

KNICKS
Projected starters:
PG Chauncey Billups
SG Landry Fields
SF Carmelo Anthony
PF Amare Stoudemire
C Ronny Turiaf

Carmelo Anthony: Value holds
Anthony was attempting 19.3 field goals per game on the Nuggets. It's logical to think that number will drop now that he's playing with Amare Stoudemire, but don't forget coach Mike D'Antoni's rabid offensive style. The Knicks attempt the fifth-most shots in the league while the Nuggets rank 21st in that category.

Chauncey Billups: Value holds
Coach Mike D'Antoni's offense is built around point guards. Raymond Felton was having a career year as a top-30 fantasy player and Billups will be no different.

Ronny Turiaf: Upgrade slightly
The Knicks gave away starting center Timofey Mozgov and two small forwards (Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari) that could play some power forward for them. Turiaf projects as a starter on most nights, but note how inconsistent he has been in that role. In 13 starts this year, Turiaf has averaged just 5.9 points and 3.8 rebounds in 21.5 minutes. Always a good bet for an in-game injury, Turiaf is only worth the headache in deep leagues.

Corey Brewer: Downgrade slightly
Brewer is a poor bet to unseat Landry Fields at any point this season, but will get minutes because he actually plays defense. The Knicks are going to need this with so many swiss-cheese defenders in their new lineup. Think 24-28 minutes of a high steal rate and poor shooting.

TIMBERWOLVES
Projected starters:
PG Luke Ridnour
SG Martell Webster
SF Michael Beasley
PF Kevin Love
C Darko Milicic

Anthony Randolph: Upgrade
Despite gobs of otherworldly talent, Randolph has been dumped by two teams in the last year. If that's not a red flag, he has questionable work ethic and hasn't sniffed the floor in 37 of the Knicks' games this year. Still, he projects to eventually get 20-25 minutes as a big off the Wolves bench. That's enough burn to take a flier on the upside, especially if you need blocks.

Martell Webster: Upgrade
Corey Brewer had started 19 straight games for the Wolves, averaging 25.2 minutes over that span. That slack will be picked up by Martell Webster, who started at shooting guard ahead of rookie Wes Johnson last time out. Webster's troublesome back is a major concern, but he makes 2.1 treys per 36 minutes in his career. Worth a deep-league add.

NUGGETS
Projected starters:
PG Ty Lawson
SG Arron Afflalo
SF J.R. Smith
PF Kenyon Martin
C Nene

Ty Lawson: Upgrade big
The Nuggets plan on moving Raymond Felton along to a team to be determined. That's because Lawson is ready to play right now. In 14 career starts, he has averaged 16.4 points, 5.9 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 1.2 treys and 1.1 steals. There is room to grow on those numbers as well. He's a must-own and must-start.

Aaron Afflalo: Value holds
Afflalo is the kind of player that benefits from playing with a superstar like Carmelo Anthony. He knocks down open 3-pointers while struggling to get his shot off. Yes, there are more attempts to go around now, but Afflalo's game isn't suited to capitalizing on that opportunity.

Danilo Gallinari: Downgrade
Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni has been in Gallinari's corner almost to a fault. It's unlikely that George Karl will stand for Gallo's atrocious defense and inconsistent focus. Karl also isn't a fan of jacking up treys early in the shot clock like D'Antoni is. Gallo is no lock to stay in Denver -- and if he does he will be fighting with Wilson Chandler and J.R. Smith for minutes. Gallinari would get a boost if a trade to New Jersey goes down.

Timofey Mozgov: Downgrade
For now, the Nuggets say they are not trading Nene. And they say Mozgov isn't headed to New Jersey. That could be a bluff as Thursday's deadline approaches. Either way, Mozgov is more of a project than an NBA starter right now. Leave him on waivers.

Wilson Chandler: Downgrade
There is simply too much clutter here for Chandler to get enough minutes/shots to be reliable. That could all change if Gallinari and J.R. Smith are traded, but we can only take a "wait-and-see" approach with Chandler for now. Hold through the deadline.

J.R. Smith: Upgrade
There are reports out there that the Nuggets will not be trading the hot-headed Smith. We are not really buying that, but we must upgrade just in case the reports are true. In five starts this year with Carmelo sidelined, Smith averaged 13.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.6 treys. If locked in as a starter, his confidence and those numbers will rise.

 

[HacheMan]

I Double-Dog Deron Ya
The 13-player Carmelo Anthony deal is official, several other trades are in the works, Tuesday's nine games are in the books and Wednesday's 12-game slate is up next. Let's take a team-by-team look at things, as the NBA is in the midst of one of its most chaotic weeks ever. Oh, and as I was wrapping up this column, this happened.

Utah and New Jersey - Deron Williams was traded to the Nets! Utah will send Williams to the Nets for Devin Harris and Derrick Favors, two first-round draft picks and $3 million. The Warriors get Troy Murphy, who they'll presumably buy out, and will send Dan Gadzuric and Brandan Wright to the Nets.

This trade came out of left field and we still don't know how long Deron will stay with the Nets, as he can't sign an extension until July. He, along with Chris Paul and Dwight Howard, are also candidates to play for the Knicks or Nets some day, as New Jersey and New York attempt to build their own versions of the Big 3. Small market teams are going to really start crying foul, and the fact the Knicks gave up much more for Carmelo Anthony than the Nets did for Deron is not going to sit well with the Knicks or their fans - Unless the Nets are just renting Deron for the next 14 months or so. And what a coup for Mikhail Prokhorov, stealing Melo's and the Knicks' thunder by doing it early instead of at the deadline, as well as nabbing a player every team in the league would rather build a franchise around. Wow.

You also have to wonder why the Jazz allowed Williams to run Jerry Sloan out of town if they were so unattached to Deron. And now Deron is going to get a taste of life under the Little General, Avery Johnson, which is going to be very interesting. But for those who think Jerry Sloan might come back and coach the Jazz (or anyone else)? Think again, because it's not going to happen.

As for fantasy fallout:

Deron and Devin don't change much, but I am a little concerned about Deron's wrist and the fact he won't be needed for the playoffs now. My gut says he'll play through it, but it is a little worrisome. Although he did look pretty healthy and pain free at the All-Star Game.

Favors is stuck behind Paul Millsap for the rest of this season and probably next, but after that, it's a toss up. Favors will be a beast one day, but he's still at least a year away from making it happen, so the Jazz have time to figure out their next move.

Murphy is expected to be bought out, wants to become a free agent and then sign with a contender, with Miami, Boston and Orlando being the top prospects. And that doesn't bode well in fantasy circles.

Kris Humphries becomes the starting PF again with Murphy and Favors out of the way, boosting his value once again. He's the big winner in this deal, along with the Nets.

The Nets are off until Friday, so Deron owners in weekly leagues will lose tonight's game, but should get him for Friday and Saturday for the Nets, turning his three-game week into a two-game week.

Atlanta - The Hawks were blown out by the Lakers last night and most of them didn't play well – at all. Mike Bibby laid a goose egg, which is fitting since the Hawks are "considering" a trade that would send Ramon Sessions and Manny Harris to Atlanta for Maurice Evans and Jeff Teague. Why the Hawks haven't already pulled the trigger defies logic. If that deal doesn't happen, Devin Harris, Andre Miller and Raymond Felton will also be on their radar, although no deal is imminent. They're also shopping Marvin Williams, whom they drafted over both Chris Paul and Deron Williams in 2005. The Hawks have three more games this week to turn it around.

Boston - Rajon Rondo had a huge line on his birthday as the Celtics worked the Warriors late on Tuesday. Delonte West returned from wrist surgery but missed all four of his shots, while Kendrick Perkins banged his left knee, suffering a minor injury that will leave him iffy for Thursday's game. Semih Erden failed to score last night, but would be forced into action if Perkins is out.

Charlotte - Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson, who suffered a minor hamstring injury last night, are on the trading block, while D.J. Augustin bounced back with a big line on Wednesday after struggling through a wrist injury. Shaun Livingston played just 12 minutes as DJA reclaimed the form he had before slumping. Jackson said he could have played through the injury, while Boris Diaw and Wallace played well. Gerald Henderson stayed hot with 15 points, while Kwame Brown looks a lot more like Kwame Brown now than he did a couple weeks ago, as Nazr Mohammed is pushing him. Livingston and Brown are both on very shaky fantasy ground these days, but it makes sense to give them another game or two before saying goodbye. Especially Livingston.

Chicago - Joakim Noah is back tonight against the Raptors, so get him in your lineup. I think he's going to pick up where he left off. The Bulls are also trying to get Courtney Lee from the Rockets, and he should become an automatic starter for the Bulls if it happens.

Cleveland - The Cavs get back in action tonight against the Rockets, where Mo Williams will be questionable with his ankle injury. I would keep him benched for now, while Ramon Sessions should have another big game, as long as he's not traded before it happens. Sessions has value in Cleveland and also seems like a serious trade candidate, so hang onto him if you own him.

Dallas - The Mavs seem to be the front-runner for the services of Devin Harris, who was replaced by Jason Kidd in Dallas a few years ago. The Mavs seem to be collecting guards like nobody's business, which is going to cause fantasy headaches for guys like Harris, Kidd, Jose Juan Barea, Jason Terry and Roddy Beaubois, to name a few, if it happens. Dallas hosts the Jazz this evening.

Denver - The Nuggets used a makeshift unit last night to beat the Grizzlies. J.R. Smith, Arron Afflalo, Ty Lawson and even Chris Andersen all had solid lines. The starting lineup going forward for the Nuggets should be Lawson, Afflalo, Danilo Gallinari, Kenyon Martin and Nene, with Wilson Chandler as sixth man, followed by some combination of Raymond Felton, Smith and Al Harrington – barring further trades. The Nuggets say they're keeping all their new guys, which could mean bad things for Felton. And despite Afflalo's big game, I'm still expecting him to take a hit. He'll have to contend not only with Chandler, Gallinari and Smith, but George Karl said on Tuesday that he expects Felton and Lawson to share time on the floor together. I'm not saying Afflalo is a guy you automatically drop right now, but I will be shocked if he doesn't take a dip in production in the new lineup.

Detroit - Greg Monroe double-doubled, Rodney Stuckey played well and Will Bynum scored 21 points with six assists off the bench. Tracy McGrady is still the starting PG in Detroit, but his owners should be watching Bynum very closely, as he appears to be moving in on T-Mac's job. And given the state of T-Mac's legs, we all should be watching Bynum. And Tayshaun Prince, who for some reason will likely be re-signed by the Pistons, was 0-for-0 last night for one point. He'll bounce back tonight at Indiana.

Golden State - The Warriors played well on Tuesday, but the Celtics pulled away late for an easy win. Monta Ellis, Stephen Curry, Dorell Wright and David Lee all played pretty well, while Andris Biedrins now officially is on timeshare watch with Ekpe Udoh. Biedrins is safer right now, but is still a pretty shaky fantasy player to be in your starting lineup. Biedrins had four points, five boards and a block, while Udoh had six points, six boards and three blocks. As we've been saying for 10 days, keep an eye on Udoh.
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Houston - The Rockets are looking to trade Courtney Lee to the Bulls, while Shane Battier is also on the block. Stay tuned. Patrick Patterson scored 20 points off the bench last night, but I'd continue to ignore him for now, as it feels like a fluke. Terrence Williams is also hoping to be traded, but regardless of where he ends up, this season looks like a total loss.

Indiana - The Pacers handled the Wizards last night as Darren Collison, Roy Hibbert and Danny Granger all came through. Tyler Hansbrough scored 17 but had just five boards, while Paul George bounced back from a groin injury with a solid stat line. George and Hansbrough aren't everyday fantasy starters, but both are worth owning in many leagues.

Clippers - The Clips nearly got a triple-double out of Blake Griffin, while Baron Davis and his balky knee raised more red flags for his owners. Diddy was just 1-of-8 last night for two points and four assists. He was on fire until his knee started acting up last week, and I now wonder how much longer he's going to last. Randy Foye and Eric Bledsoe weren't spectacular last night, but Foye is worth holding and Bledsoe is worth keeping an eye on until we see how this Baron story ends up. Chris Kaman was fairly useless despite more minutes last night, while DeAndre Jordan's owners aren't going to love the timeshare that's coming. Eric Gordon is hoping to return from his wrist injury on Monday, but it may or may not happen.

Lakers - The Lakers crushed the Hawks, who basically didn't even show up last night. Lamar Odom was quiet and Andrew Bynum was solid, but there is nothing to learn from this game as far as L.A. is concerned. Although they certainly needed an easy win.

Grizzlies - There is talk out there about the Grizz sending Zach Randolph to the Magic for Brandon Bass and Jason Richardson, which would obviously be huge for Richardson's value. In the meantime, Tony Allen had 26 points and eight boards as the starting shooting guard last night, while O.J. Mayo chipped in with 21 points off the bench. Sam Young scored 10 and filled the stat sheet and owners who grabbed Allen and plugged him in got an early reward. But if Richardson is traded to Memphis, he'll be the starting 2 guard. Mayo's line is intriguing, but I need to see it a few more times before taking the bait. Marc Gasol struggled, but is still a quality starting center.

Miami - The Heat got big lines from Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh in an easy win over the Kings, while Mario Chalmers also played pretty well. He's going to be hit or miss, so I'd stay clear of him. Erick Dampier failed to score, but played solid minutes in his first start for the Heat. It took some time, but he should be there the rest of the way, so keep an eye on him if you need a center.

Milwaukee - As usual, the Bucks got a hodge-podge of production from several sources, including Corey Maggette, Jon Brockman and Carlos Delfino as most of the big men were in foul trouble against the Wolves. Brandon Jennings was great and Ersan Ilyasova came off the bench in his return from an eye injury. Now that everyone is healthy, expect Maggette, Delfino, John Salmons and Ilyasova to trade big lines, while Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Brockman are also going to occasionally make noise.

Minnesota - Michael Beasley returned from his ankle injury and scored 21, Kevin Love racked up another big line for his 43rd straight double-double, and Darko Milicic struggled with foul trouble. Wesley Johnson started over a gimpy Martell Webster, while Corey Brewer is now with the Knicks. Johnson and Webster are going to split time, but Johnson is the starter for now. The Anthony Randolph era in Minnesota could start tonight against the Grizzlies.

New Orleans - The Hornets are likely to acquire Carl Landry for Marcus Thornton. This will free Thornton to go to Sacramento and fill in for Tyreke Evans, while Landry will solidify the Kings Hornets bench, as he can back up both David West and Emeka Okafor. Okafor is still iffy for tonight's game with his strained oblique, while all eyes will be on Chris Paul and Deron Williams to see if either of them land in New York in 2012. My guess is Paul will, but it's just a guess.

New York - The Knicks will debut their new team tonight, as it sounds like Melo and company are all set to go. They get a home game against the Bucks and my guess at a starting five is Chauncey Billups, Landry Fields, Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire and Ronny Turiaf.

Oklahoma City - The Thunder got nice lines from Jeff Green and James Harden in a win over the Clippers. All is quiet in OKC prior to the trade deadline.

Orlando - Rumors the Magic are set to send Brandon Bass and Jason Richardson to the Grizzlies for Zach Randolph are everywhere, but a deal is not imminent. The Magic like J-Rich. Other than that trade, all is quiet in Orlando as they prepare for the Kings tonight.

Philadelphia - Spencer Hawes is practicing and should be back in action tonight from an ankle injury, while the Blazers are said to be interested in Marreese Speights. The Sixers get the Wizards in Philly tonight, which should result in an easy win.

Phoenix - Despite Paul Coro being one of the best beat writers in the business, there's been no news out of Phoenix in a while. Which means there's nothing going on. They host the reeling Hawks tonight in Phoenix.

Portland - Marcus Camby and Andre Miller are likely to be moved in the next 24 hours, while Brandon Roy is a game-time decision as he returns from knee surgery tonight against the Lakers. Camby is doubtful with his knee soreness and has likely played his last game as a Blazer.

Sacramento - The Kings are set to acquire Marcus Thornton for Carl Landry, which will clear more minutes for Samuel Dalembert and Jason Thompson. Thornton will also see immediate opportunities with Tyreke Evans out for the next three weeks, and potentially longer. The Kings were throttled by the Heat last night and Jermaine Taylor's fantasy value will take a hit if the Thornton deal becomes final.

San Antonio - Tony Parker has a sore knee but will play tonight, while Tiago Splitter remains day-to-day with a hamstring injury.

Toronto - The Raps fell to Charlotte last night despite 11 assists from Jose Calderon and a quiet double-double from Jerryd Bayless. They also got 19 points out of starter Sonny Weems, who should now be on fantasy radar. They also traded a draft pick to get James Johnson from the Bulls on Tuesday, and while it's easy to blow that deal off, the Raptors have long coveted him. Just keep an eye on him.

Washington - The Wiz got beat on the road yet again, as Rashard Lewis' knee remains a huge concern. Bench him until he gets it worked out. Josh Howard started in his place and played well, and is a better starting option for now. Nick Young returned from his knee injury and struggled with his shot, while John Wall filled the stat sheet, including missed shots and turnovers. Al Thornton tried to play through a finger injury and Kirk Hinrich sat out with a bruised calf.

 

[HacheMan]

Trading Day
I implanted a computer chip in my head that automatically read Twitter and fed me the news fast enough to make Watson of Jeopardy! fame blush, which should tell you enough about where I've been the last two weeks keeping up on any and all trade rumors.

Then I woke up and found out that I wasn't a T-1000 learning computer, and that Deron Williams had been traded, which I sheepishly brought up in the Rotoworld Trade Deadline Review Part Deux. I'd have gone more solid with the prediction, but unlike the Carmelo Anthony trade I didn't have time to process the angles. In fact, none of this is an exact science and I'm not on the phone with World Wide Wes, Adrian Wojnarowski, or Mikhail Prokhorov, though there is a rumor that Prokhorov wants me to hang out with all of his models. Rough life being a fantasy expert.

So back to reality once more, I'm going to jump right in before the ink on this page becomes yesterday's news.

Also check out the Rotoworld Trade Deadline Reviews, the most recent of which you can find here. You will also be able to link to the first one from there. Be sure to keep up with Rotoworld's NBA Player News page and follow me on Twitter as I'll be tweeting all the way through the deadline.

Have you heard that Bird is the word?

There, now all of you Family Guy fans have it stuck in your head, too. Let's run down the next dominos to potentially fall.

In Denver, the fates of Raymond Felton, Ty Lawson, Arron Afflalo, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, J.R. Smith, Al Harrington, and Nene all hang in the balance of the Nuggets' attempt to convince folks they're keeping them all. While they came away with a good result in the Carmelo Anthony trade, they also blabbered about their leverage belligerently to the press so I'm not buying anything until the sun comes up tomorrow.

The best news for owners of Felton and Lawson may have come when Felton's agent reportedly visited with GM Masai Ujiri to tell him that he would not be coming off the bench. Thems are fightin words where I come from, and the result of the situation was all parties involved getting into step by the end of the day. Felton said he was happy to play in Denver, his agent said that Felton wouldn't be disruptive, and teams are reporting that Ujiri is telling them they won't trade Felton because he will be their starter. Excuse me while I pinch my nose, but that smells just a bit fishy, and while owners of both Felton and Lawson need to simply hold while this gets sorted out – a low-ball buy low offer for either guy while owners are panicking is something to consider for the gamblers out there. Should a trade for Felton not occur, then they'll have very low upside in a timeshare.

As for Gallinari, Chandler, and Nene, they all seem more likely to stay than to leave. Chandler reportedly will use the rest of this season to discuss an extension with the Nuggets, and Nene has stated that he wants to stay due to his wife's pregnancy and his preference for the area. We know Nene's value will stay the same in Denver, and I'm cautiously optimistic about Gallo and Chandler, too. Aside from J.R. Smith being on the block (yet another reason I don't believe Denver's statement about not trading), I believe they will find a way to get minutes to Gallo and Chandler. Smith's name has been heating up in Chicago, and he's a guy that's going to need a trade to hold consistent value.

Finally, Arron Afflalo is a guy that is just plain intriguing. He shoots at a 50.4% clip from the field, 43.8% from deep, and gives you a little bit of everything. I agree with Doctor A's assessment, however, that he's in a tough spot right now. Adding to my skepticism that Denver is standing pat is his solid play, the fact that Denver loves him, the fact that he's cheap, and after all, the guy just hit a game-winner the other night. Why move him to the bench and/or cut his minutes. Don't get me wrong, his value will take a hit if Denver stays this crowded, but my guts telling me it isn't going to be as bad as it seems right now.

Michael Jordan needs some footies, Portland's cooling

He reportedly got cold feet when dealing with the Blazers on a trade that would send over Gerald Wallace for some combination of Andre Miller OR Joel Przybilla OR Marcus Camby, and it may have happened when he asked for Rudy Fernandez and was informed by Rudy's agent that he'd seek a buyout. Either way, for a guy that took it to the hole better than anybody in history, he sure looks like a waffler on the phone lines.

By the end of the night, the trade had been pronounced dead, though there are enough reputable writers talking about Crash trade possibilities for me to pronounce him alive on the trading block, though coach Paul Silas is telling anybody that can hear him that a trade won't be made. The good news for him is that he plays without the ball and that stabilizes his value to a degree. Don't panic if you own him just yet. I've also been on the sell-high bandwagon for Stephen Jackson, and while he missed practice Wednesday and would take a hit if traded to a contender, there has been less smoke around him by the day. Maybe if Dallas can't get anywhere with Detroit in regards to Tayshaun Prince things pick up, but Dallas (like many teams) just aren't making competitive offers for either of them. I'm backing off a sell-high recommendation on Jackson for the time-being.

As usual, Boris Diaw has been a hot name and Marc Spears, a very reliable voice, says to keep an eye on him and his $9 million contract for next year. Again, there's just too much smoke around Charlotte to fully believe Silas here.

As for Marcus Camby, the Knicks are working very hard to get him but don't have the assets to do it, though Landry Fields' name has been brought up, which hasn't gotten a deal done to date so owners can breathe a bit as he wouldn't be a good fantasy fit in Portland. The Knicks may be forced to go down the ladder to Jeff Foster, who isn't a good fit, and if they can't swing a deal for a big man they may end up signing Earl Barron. Camby in New York is intriguing, but isn't necessarily a game-changer for him. His biggest attribute is going to be his health, as in, his ability to stay healthy.

The Knicks have floated the possibility of trading Corey Brewer, which would be too bad for him from a fantasy perspective since he fits the Knicks' style and should be on owners' radars, even if he's far from a must-own in standard leagues.

Portland, for being a team that all analysts agreed would be active, has taken a pretty big step back. Of course that's what a team leaks when they're not getting the value that they want, but we're hearing it from enough places to give it some credibility, since they don't necessarily have to tear down their team, per se. Andre Miller's owners can be cautiously optimistic that he will stay, so slow down the sell-high vibes and maybe consider floating a low-ball buy-low offer to a panicked owner.

Houston, we have a problem

That is, nobody wants to play with them. GM Daryl Morey is starting to catch some local heat for sitting on his hand, but the more likely reality is that the right deal hasn't presented itself. Early Thursday morning talks involving Memphis sending Hasheem Thabeet to Houston's Shane Battier, however, with Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld saying he was "confident" the deal would go down. I've been on you guys to sell Chuck Hayes, Sam Young, and Tony Allen high, though the Young/Allen recommendation was driven mostly by a report that Jason Richardson might arrive via a Zach Randolph trade (more on that next). With this deal looking likely to go down, I stand by those recommendations unless the trade winds change. As for Battier, he would take a hit in Memphis with both Allen and Young playing well.

Courtney Lee still sounds like a good bet to be traded, Yao Ming does not sound like a good bet to be traded, Aaron Brooks is still a long-shot to be traded,

Heisley's Way

I've mentioned a few times that Zach Randolph was a sell-high player, with the rationale being his expiring contract and the fact that the Grizzlies had let it be known that they'd be making signing Marc Gasol a priority. Most observers, including myself, have (correctly) determined they would not be able to sign Z-Bo and Gasol, and the Grizzlies would be wise to trade him before the deadline to not lose him for nothing.

That, of course, makes way too much sense if you're owner Michael Heisley, whose rant over the summer about not extending commonly extended provisions to rookie Xavier Henry ranked somewhere between 'drunken homeless fan' and 'belligerent businessman.' About a week before Rudy Gay's potentially season-ending injury, it was reported that he wanted a playoff run (for the revenue) and that he may hold onto Randolph knowing he'd lose him for nothing over the summer. After Gay's injury, there were shadow reports (no team names involved) that he was on the block and then a specific report that the Grizzlies were considering a trade to Orlando for Jason Richardson and Brandon Bass, but that Orlando hadn't considered it. Then a report emerged that Orlando talking about extending Richardson's deal.

Now, a report in the Memphis Commercial Appeal states that he believes that he wants to sign Randolph to an extension, wants to keep Thabeet to provide leverage against Marc Gasol over the summer, and that he may keep O.J. Mayo because he's not getting fair value.

Yup, sounds just like Heisley. So while he would be wise to move Randolph and Mayo, I'm going to call off the dogs a bit on the sell-high status of Randolph. You may want to sell for $0.90-$0.95 on the $1.00 to hedge your bets, but based on the lack of smoke surrounding him and the incompetency of the owner – I'm guessing he loses Randolph for nothing over the summer and lets Mayo rot on his bench. We'll see.

What happened?

You know when you were in college, or maybe last Friday, and can't quite remember how much fun you had and you had a massive headache? That's how it feels to be a Jazz fan, who have lost beloved Jerry Sloan, Carlos Boozer, and now Deron Williams in the new NBA in which superstars are forcing trades. I'll wax poetic at some point about – I'm neither for it or against it at this point (yes, a waffler), but it has created the chance for Utah to continue to sell. They've been taking calls on Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson, and while they're unlikely to be moved, anything can happen with Utah still in the luxury tax. The Pacers have been rumored to be interested in both, which makes sense given their lack of an impact player at PF, but that rumor is far from 'smoky' if you know what I mean. Andrei Kirilenko has a big expiring contract and the player to keep an eye on would be C.J. Miles, who would benefit from an exodus of players. Whatever the case may be, GM Kevin O'Connor said the Jazz plan to be active, so watch out.

Odds and Ends

Monta Ellis (knee) missed practice on Wednesday. Conspiracy theorists unite! Until there's more smoke the needle doesn't move, and it's worth pointing out that most GMs calling have been inquiring about Stephen Curry, Reggie Williams, and Ekpe Udoh with no luck.

David Kahn, if anything, keeps it interesting up in Minny. He is reportedly pursuing Raja Bell, but the most recent reports lean toward a deal happening near draft day. The more likely deadline deal could be for former No. 6 pick Jonny Flynn, who has been a massive disappointment. Beat writer Jerry Zgoda talked about Sacramento, Portland, and Toronto as possible destinations, and felt that any first round pick could probably get the deal done, with paving the way for Ricky Rubio being Zgoda's take on the motives behind it. That, and he just isn't that good, but any exit would further solidify PG Luke Ridnour's hold on the starting job. Ridnour should probably be owned in most (if not all) leagues already, and this news should nudge folks to the same conclusion.

UPDATE: Jonny Flynn is being discussed with Houston for either Aaron Brooks or Jared Jeffries and the teams are discussing picks. Should it be Brooks, the fact that Ridnour has a personal situation he's dealing with is one reason he becomes a bit of a better stash, but not enough to become a must-own player. With all the talk that Brooks is unlikely to be traded, it would seem that Jeffries is the favorite here. Bump up Kyle Lowry's outlook a bit, while Jeffries and Flynn should be ignored, obviously.

Dallas is reportedly going to make one more run at Tayshaun Prince, whose value would take a hit in Dallas with all 37 of their rotation players. Owners of any Mavs should hope this trade doesn't go down, too, and it seems like Dallas simply isn't offering enough. The Heat have been sniffing around Brendan Haywood and been offering Mike Miller for him, as well as the rest of the league. Miller is not drawing any interest which should be an indicator for fantasy owners, as well.

T.J. Ford is drawing interest from Portland in the case of a buyout, with Jason Quick of the Oregonian saying it's a "strong" chance he lands there after a buyout. An interesting quote included Ford saying he wouldn't mind backing up Andre Miller, lending a bit more credibility to the idea that Miller would be staying. Reggie Evans is on the block officially, which only serves to help the PF situation in Toronto. Jared Dudley's name has been popping up among playoff contenders, and I actually like him better on the Suns playing behind declining Vince Carter.

Yesterday's News

The big deal was Baron Davis to Cleveland for Mo Williams, and I told a Twitter follower that I'd rather hold Mo for the fact that he plays with Blake Griffin. There's that and the fact that Davis' injury history is more checkered, his mental problems are probably worse than Mo's on the whole, and Davis' injury seems worse right now. I'm loving my sell-high recommendation three weeks ago on Davis a whole bunch.

The Hawks also traded for Kirk Hinrich, who should be owned in all leagues, for Jordan Crawford, Mike Bibby, and Mo Evans. Crawford is an interesting player to watch with the chance the Wiz go young and many of their wings banged up, while the two aging vets have no real value. Hilton Armstrong was also sent to the Hawks, and may get some run with the Hawks so thin up front, but isn't likely to have any fantasy value.

Carl Landry was traded to the Hornets, as expected, for Marcus Thornton. I mentioned this in a few places, but Thornton and Jermaine Taylor have a real chance to cancel each other out. I'll take Thornton if I have to choose and while both are worth a look, neither are must-own in standard leagues. As for Landry, he'll have a hard time finding fantasy value in standard formats, but I do expect him to find new life. He was simply miscast in Sacto. The real fantasy news here is Trevor Ariza, and his sell-high status if you can call it that. With the Hornets also looking for a shooting guard, I believe Ariza's playing time is the most exposed, as well as Willie Green's, so sell them if you're in a league where that makes sense.